Learning About Learning

1620-1800
Dual purpose of education: 1) basic literacy  2) establishing and reinforcing moral character & orthodoxy
1800-1860
Emerging trends: secular control of education; academies, high schools; modern foreign language teaching as a discipline
1860-1920
Trends: tax-supported public education; decline of private academies; decline of classical studies and Latin; German and French enter curriculum
1920-1950
Trends: post-war isolationism; raised educational goals; assimilation of immigrants seen as schooling goal; anthropology and linguistics develop; language teaching methodologies proliferate
1950-2000
Trends: continuing debate about educational methods - alarmism following Sputnik, increase in unassimilated immigrants; rise in school violence; further proliferation of second language teaching methodologies; de-emphasis and then re-emphasis on basic educational goals; increased complexity of social changes and expectations of schooling

Look over the complete chart and you’ll find some surprises. You’ll also get a sense of the overall pace of development and see many of the key decisions and milestones.