The Evolution of Public Education in America

The video explores the anxiety associated with the back-to-school season and traces the history of organized learning from ancient times to the establishment of public education in the U.S. It highlights the role of Horace Mann in promoting free universal schooling and describes the function of one-room schoolhouses. The video also discusses how curriculum and textbooks were chosen, emphasizing the influence of local school boards.

What time of year is associated with back-to-school anxiety?

• Mid-October

• Mid-June

• Mid-September

• Mid-August

What was the role of cave walls in early learning?

• They were used for shelter

• They were used as blackboards

• They were used for storage

• They were used for cooking

Where were the first public schools in America established?

• Pennsylvania

• Massachusetts

• Virginia

• New York

Which famous industrialist attended the Scotch Settlement School?

• Thomas Edison

• John D. Rockefeller

• Andrew Carnegie

• Henry Ford

In what year did Henry Ford acquire the Scotch Settlement School building?

• 1913

• 1923

• 1933

• 1943

Who was a key figure in promoting free universal schooling in America?

• Horace Mann

• John Dewey

• Frederick Douglass

• Booker T. Washington

What was a common feature of one-room schoolhouses?

• Focus on physical education

• Oral lessons before textbooks were available

• Use of digital technology

• Separate classes for each age group

What was the primary responsibility for education before the 1800s?

• The community

• The government

• The family

• The church

Who typically decided on the textbooks used in schools?

• Parents

• Local school boards

• State governors

• Federal government

What additional skills are emphasized alongside the three R's in modern education?

• Foreign languages

• Physical fitness and sports

• Critical thinking and compassion

• Art and music