PBS Episode Two: "The Story of Schools"

 Part Two of “The Story of School” was a great educational tool that put together a lot of important information all in one sitting about the American Educational Experience. When schools were first being established in the early 1900’s, many students considered them inhospitable. The video reported a fact that 80% of students would rather work than go to school. Many students didn’t see the point in education, when most were simply going to work industrial jobs for the rest of their lives. School was seen as a place that was dark and dangerous, and the spreading diseases more common in educational institutions than in other places.

School during this time contained many pressures of Americanize students, erasing any former culture contained by individual students. For example, many schools were “English only” and heavy embraced Christianity.

Schools during the early 1900’s had many changes to the way students were taught. Between 1900-1950, the emphasis to transition from traditional to progressive educational environments was essential. With this change, many characteristics of the school day changed. Students began learning through hands on activities. New classes were introduced such as physical education, life skills and world exploration. Students began moving from class to class instead of remaining in one room throughout the day. With progressive education, students and their families’ opinions of school began changing. School was a place students wanted to be because education provided ample opportunity for students to work, study, and play, concentrating on the developing child as a whole.