History of Education
The United State's education system has gone through many different changes to get to where it is today. From colonial days to modern day, the ideal version of schooling has evolved drastically because of the outside influences that took advantage of the system.
before schools
Before schools were officially established in the United States, children would spend most of their days working alongside their parents. They worked eight hour days in either an industrial setting or in an agricultural setting. Children would work because money was greatly needed to survive, and everyone in the family working was the only way for some families to stay afloat. Education was not considered as important as getting money, so there were no mandated schools in the United States.
the start of schools
The first state to have mandatory schooling in the United States was Massachusetts, during the mid-1600s. However, schools in this time were different than what we see today. Instead of the focus being on learning, schools were focused on instilling Puritan beliefs into children and making them the best Puritan they could be. At this point, the education system was dominated by a religion to ingrain their belief systems into young children.
post-1600s
After religious systems started influencing the education system, other systems saw that they could impress their own ideals upon children. There were two main influences on children that are still apparent in modern times: the government and large corporations.
The Industrial Influence
The industrial influence on the education system in the United States may have been one of the greatest factors in the current mental health crisis. Employers viewed schools as the newest breeding grounds to create good employees with all the values they desire: memorization, how to follow directions, and the ability to withstand long hours. Sound familiar? Since the education system began in the United States, employers have embedded the curriculum with what they want from future employees. This becomes dangerous when schools are putting the desires of corporations over the needs of their students.
The Governmental Influence
The government has been able to influence schools for over three-hundred years. They traditionally saw school as the best way to instill American patriotism in children, so they could learn about the grandeur and the incredible history of the United States. However, by showing this false, idealistic version of American history, the government has succeeded in hiding the darkest parts of the American story, therefore making young children believe the United States is without fault, a dangerous misconception.
the effect on modern day education
Over time, the underlying mission behind schools has become subjected to large corporations' agenda to shape students into the types of employees they were searching for. When these influences combine, the education system becomes a mere fraction of what its true potential is. Instead of getting kids to genuinely enjoy what they are learning, students become bored with the memorization of facts and start to dread school. As a result of corporation's influence on the education system, school has become an extreme competition for students. Kids are focusing on what can make them "the best", and not taking the opportunity to study and enjoy what interests them. This dangerous ideology contributes to the mental health crisis in the education system.