The History of American Education

This course is an introduction to the history of American education with an emphasis on K-12 public schooling. Using primary and secondary sources, we will explore the development of public schools and school systems, debates over aims and curriculum, conflicts over school governance and funding, and struggles for equity and inclusion over time. We will analyze the relationship between schooling, capitalism, and democracy. Finally, in exploring how different generations have defined and tried to solve educational dilemmas, we’ll consider how this history might help us approach education today.