The U.S. Historical Roots of Teaching

I believe teaching has been around since the dawning of time, but in a formal sense in the United States in began in the colonial era. School was seen as an institution of elite young men of the society. There education was paid for my their rich fathers. Girls were seen as keepers of the home and why would they need education to expand their minds. Early curriculum focused on the three R's: Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. The teachers focused on dictation and memorization. It wasn't until John Locke, an English philosopher stated that there should be an emphasis with first hand experiences in helping children learn about the world.

The Constitution of the United States helped shape education. It did so in three ways. First, the law of separation of church and state, second, giving education to the state, and then the Law Ordinances of 1785, where land was sectioned off to become schools.

The Common School movement was the turning point in American Education in that it was an idea that schools were supported by taxes. Then there was and still is the issue of teacher quality. What makes a good-qualified teacher?

Education has change quit a bit since the colonial days. In this great country education is available to all. We still struggle with the issues of religion and racial issues, but there is more equality than in the past. We have a better understanding of how the institution of learning works within a state, but still struggle to find funding for programs and pay raises for our teachers. Students today are taught to ask questions, and think more critically. When we teach this way the learning process evolves and new things are discovered. There is a great quote out there that states. "To know one's future, you must understand one's past." The past was yet a foundation for the future so we could evolve and continue to grow in this great country!