The American Public School System - 960 Words

In the 17th century, the American public school system was founded and built upon early US colonists’ religious principle and ideologies, which were all a branch or sect of Christianity. The first tax-supported public school in the country in Dedham, Massachusetts was run by Reverend Ralph Wheelock who was a puritan priest. Schools in other parts of the English colonies were run by Jesuits, Catholics, Protestants, Lutherans, and the like. When new territory was claimed from the Native Americans, it was declared that the Native Americans were to be taught Christian ideology, and although enslaved and prevented from attending school, many African Americans were encouraged, or even coerced to adopt the Christian faith as well. At the beginning of every school day, mandatory prayers were recited from the Bible—like the Lord’s Prayer—and it was not until 1962 and 1963 that this was officially changed. This all began in 1955 when the New York Board of Regents ap proved an inclusive prayer to be used in the public school system. The prayer was â€Å"Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependency on Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our country.† Engel v. Vitale made it unlawful for the public recitation of the Regents’ Prayer in public schools. In the year following, the Supreme Court ruled in the case of Abington School District v. Schempp that the corporate reading of the Bible and recitation of the Lord’s Prayer was unlawful in public schools.Show MoreRelatedThe American Public School System1712 Words   |  7 PagesIf American schools want meet the needs of the twenty-first century, they must be reinvented. It is not enough to fix the schools; they must be rebuilt in both fundamental and radical ways. The future of the American public school system is significant because the livelihood of an informed and productive citizen is vital to the future of this country. Historically, Americans have strongly asserted the importance of public schools in a democracy and despite the growing hatred for the face value ofRead MoreThe American Public School System1335 Words   |  6 Pagesto revamp the American public school system is in the hands of the state lawmakers. The Common Core State Standards Initiative is the soluti on to this crisis facing our country today. These standards provide a framework in our public schools to help better prepare students for college. Through the implementation of these standards here in the State of Florida we will be helping bring our young scholars to a globally competitive level where the sky is the limit. The crisis for public education reformRead MoreThe Future Of The American Public School System1344 Words   |  6 PagesAmerica s Schools are to meet the needs of the twenty first century, they must be reinvented. It is not enough to try to fix the schools; they must be reconstructed in both fundamental and radical ways. The school system must be restructured. The future of the American public school system is significant because the maintenance of an informed and productive citizenry is vital to the future of this country. Historically Americans have strongly asserted the importance of public schools in a democracyRead MoreThe Supreme Court On The American Public School System Essay1702 Words   |  7 PagesCourt would look at the First Amendment even until today. Although in this particular instance, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of religion and schools, this new definition of the First Amendment would go on to be used against religion in the American public school system for years to come until it would be almost entirely eradicated from public schools today. While many scholars have written on this case and have taken a stand on whether or not the interpretation is poor or good, they all agreeRead MoreA Free Public School System After The American Revolution826 Words   |  4 PagesUnited States first presented the idea of a free public school system after the American Revolution. In the late 1700s, the first American schools were established in the original thirteen colonies. Later in the 1800 century, African Americans began to have rights for attending public education with some strong boundaries. In Texas, the first law in 1840 established each county to put aside 17,000 acres of land for the construction of public school buildings. Five years later, the Texas constitutionRead MoreThe Corporate Side Of American Public Education And The Reformists Misled Beliefs That The School System1389 Words   |  6 PagesDiane Ravitch explores the corporate side of American public education and the reformists’ misled beliefs that the school system is in crisis. The school reforms in place are disguised as a means of improving public education, when in reality it has become an objective to â€Å"replace public education with a privately managed, free-market system of schooling† (Ravitch, p.4). Diane Ravitch supports her claim that the reformation movement has poor intentions with multiple sources of evidence. AmongRead MoreThe School System Of The United States961 Words   |  4 PagesAgainst Schoo l In a progressively more globalized world that necessitates more effective educational practices, the U.S., once the biggest global force in education, has seen its dominance slowly slip out, and its educational status fall even lower than that of several third-world countries. The decline experienced in American school system academic achievement is not as a result of lack of funding, but as a consequence of the overall educational system watering down. According to Gatto, educatingRead MoreThe Education System Of The American School System961 Words   |  4 Pages Against School In a progressively more globalized world that necessitates more effective educational practices, the U.S., once the biggest global force in education, has seen its dominance slowly slip out, and its educational status fall even lower than that of several third-world countries. The decline experienced in American school system academic achievement is not as a result of lack of funding, but as a consequence of the overall educational system watering down. According to Gatto, educatingRead MoreEssay Will School Vouchers Improve Public Schools?1082 Words   |  5 Pagesan area that American society cannot afford to ignore, as the discussion on voucher schools directly affects our youth, the very foundation of our country. Many cities across the United States have proposed school voucher programs in an effort to improve the education of inner-city children that come from low-income families. However, with this proposition arises certain questions that cannot be avoided. Although proponen ts of school vouchers argue differently, challengers of the system expressly stateRead MoreEssay on Private Schools Will Not Fix the American Education System1422 Words   |  6 PagesPrivate Schools Will Not Fix the American Education System    The American public education system was founded on the radical notion that all members of society should have equal access to education. Also crucial was the notion that a basic common education was essential for a true democracy. This revolutionary system is now in indisputable trouble. Many worry about America’s ability to compete with foreign countries while others address the growing dichotomy between the quality of education in