David Krakoff formerly of Lancaster works as an educational director at a Title 1 school, with experience as both principal and vice principal in the charter school setting. In the following article, David Krakoff explains the education reform movement, what it is, and how it is altering the future of education.
The public school system is an integral part of the American tableau. While it’s hard for people of the modern day to imagine a time when education was a privilege rather than a right, there was a time when it only existed for children of wealthy families.
However, David Krakoff formerly of Lancaster says that the efforts of education reformers like Horace Mann in the nineteenth century ensured the dream of a public school system came true. Due to the nature of education and the ever-changing desires and needs of society, the school infrastructure is nearly always undergoing reform. But the major work was done in earlier times.
David Krakoff explains that the education reform movement brought public schools to life, giving children from all walks of life access to teaching and learning. And with modern-day activism alongside traditional methods, the American education system holds the promise of universal excellence and equality.
The Work of Horace Mann
In the late 1830s, the Massachusetts-based reformer Horace Mann began advocating for the country’s first public school system and the separation of state and church. His life’s goal was to create free and non-optional schooling for children in the United States of America.
After convincing the Massachusetts legislature to set up a board of education, he became the secretary. Principal David Krakoff says that Mann traveled around the state, examining schools and encouraging citizens to get on board with public education.
The schools he inspected over six years were in dreadful condition, from inadequate heating to insufficient student supplies to structural issues. But this wasn’t aligned with his vision of tax-funded schools with professionally trained teachers providing high-quality education.
David Krakoff formerly of Lancaster says that Mann ran into strong opposition but eventually won the people’s support. Thus, the board of education dedicated massive dollar amounts to building the statewide school system.
As the 1850s rolled around, laws were passed requiring children to attend school, and a teacher-training college was constructed in Lexington.
His tireless efforts set the groundwork for the entire country’s public school system.
Education Reconstruction
While the schools provided quality education, there was a lot of discrimination, and many children were excluded from access. But the problems of the public school system were pushed to the background when the issues of slavery and rights swept the nation.
Until the Reconstruction Era ended, David Krakoff says African-Americans were unable to give their children access to similar education as their peers, a problem that Krakoff says still exists for many students of color to some degree in our country today.
The Progressive Era Education Reform
The Progressive Era spanned the first 30 years of the 1900s, with social activism being a crucial part of its history.
Reformers (a.k.a. progressives) addressed many issues, including the educational system. While they utilized different methodologies and approaches, they all wanted something different from traditional schooling.
David Krakoff formerly of Lancaster explains that they sought to end child labor, ensuring every child, including those who didn’t speak English, received an education.
Francis W. Parker introduced the progressive education movement by teaching in a style that relied less on authoritarianism and more on learning by doing, creativity, and self-expression. Dubbed the Quincy Movement, the methods promoted child-centric learning.
Principal David Krakoff reports that other reformers of the same era tackled administration, seeking to make school systems more efficient by centralizing admin.
Mid-Century Adaptations
The middle of the 20th century saw many education changes, including the GI Bill, which gave military personnel funding for college, books, and tuition.
Another key change was the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which allowed legal fights against schools that failed to integrate and let go of systemic racism.
In 1972, David Krakoff says that Congress passed a law that ensured girls weren’t discriminated against in the education system either.
Students with disabilities also had more educational opportunities as of a 1975 law.
Early 21st-Century Reform
A fundamental education reform was emphasizing standardized testing to measure academic achievement. In the late 20th and early 21st century, all students received the same test and were marked according to strict, universal guidelines.
The Next Chapter of Education Reform
The world isn’t the same as it was earlier in the century — or even five years ago.
So, the next chapter of education reform will likely turn to focus on skills beyond literacy and numeracy, ensuring they engage in life-long learning through collaboration, content, communication, creative innovation, critical thinking, and confidence. The six Cs are rooted in scientific pedagogy and may improve outcomes for American students further.
