The first State Board of Education

Nichole Buckley

EDU125

September 10, 2008

 

The first State Board of Education was established in Massachusetts in 1837. The Board of Education was a way to keep schoolings organized and on top of everything. The purpose of having this board was to collect information of the conditions and the well being of the schools. With this it gives them a way to recognize the successful methods of both studying and teaching.   This allowed supervision over the schools and gave them a set fund. The supervision over the schools was to mark the progression over the years, and how successful the students were.

A typical Board of Education has nine members. The governor, public school student, as well as the chancellor of higher education and commissioner of early education and care choose some.  Legislation added the position of a student because they felt they would get a better prospective and idea of the way students learn (wikipedia). The Board of Education have the authority to grant and renewing charter school applications, submitting a yearly budget proposals to the State Legislature for public education, and much more.

Horace Mann was the secretary of the board of education of Massachusetts.  He was the secretary of the board for many years. Not only was he successful at being the secretary of the board of education but he was also the state senator at the time. He continuously was successful for many years, and gave the board of education a good reputation.

            The board of education had created ten teacher-training institutions, improved leadership and organizing of the schools and much more within the first few years.  The teacher-training institutions were a big success and continued to expand within a few years. In the early 1900’s the Board of Education came together with the Commission of Industrial Education as one to replace the Original Board of Education.

The board of education was expected to give an assessment to mark the progression of each student as an individual as well as the school as a whole. The first assessment given by this Education board gave them information about the progression of the academic achievements in both schools and districts. These assessments focused in reading, math and sciences.  After a few years, they added a social studies section. These tests were originally for third, seventh and eleventh graders. After adding the social studies section, they changed it to fourth, eight and twelfth grade.  The tests results typically came out well, but varied from year to year, and they noticed what the teachers needed to focus more on.

            The board of education is still continuing its strong successes. The tests to mark the progress are still going on, as well as in other states. The board of education has also expanded to other states.  The boards will remain in affect for awhile and will continue to mark the schools progress for every different state. 

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_Board_of_Education

http://edu-cogitorium.blogspot.com/2008/05/few-notes-from-history-of-massachusetts.html

http://www.reacheverychild.com/feature/horace.html