Response to Episode One: Story of School

            In the beginning times, it is interesting to hear that there was not a free or public education being offered. This shows the progression schools have made over the years from the start forming a free public education for students. This episode of Story of School allows one to see the progression school has made in some areas, such as expanding from the beginning one room classroom. This episode shows the many influences there were on education such as Jefferson, Horace Man, Douglas, Catherine Beecher, etc. There were many different arguments, which could be the reasoning for why the schools are still being discussed controversially in present day as well. This made it clear that overtime we have slowly adapted to new issues being presented; however, the idea of the school system still needs improving and fine-tuning to make it better. It showed that the schools have not reached their full potential, allowing the viewers to wonder if the education system will ever be being altered.

            Though this time was a giant turning point for the country, it had many issues still being presented in the new idea of public schools. For instance, not all students could afford the school at first meaning only those rich enough were allowed an education. These schools were only catering to certain students’ beliefs and cultures. Other cultures were not being addressed in the school system such as Catholics. This brought up much controversy leading to the many different immigrants wanting their own school system that they wanted the board of education to pay for. There was exclusion among the schools where African and Native Americans were placed in schools with only their race. This was the beginning of the segregation that led to all the struggles with integration in the future.  This video introduces the struggles we faced in the early stages of the education system while also allowing the viewer to see the progression and areas that remain similar in schools today.

               It is interesting to think that even over the long stretch of time there still are so many trials we face in the world of education. Though we have progressed from being those female teachers being forced to the west to live with a different family every week as we educate in a one-room class, we still have problems we must overcome. This is how life is; there will always be obstacles to overcome. We will never fully agree on one system to run the schools with so there will be constant changing and disagreements overtime. I look forward to watching the progression of education and teaching over the years to come from a front row seat. It will be interesting to have my voice heard and hopefully help aide the education system in some way.