This Day In Education

It’s November 14th and on this day in 1960 Ruby Bridges was finally allowed into her kindergarten class at William Frantz Elementary School.

It’s November 13 and on this day in 1866, Abraham Flexner was born. Flexner is a man whose diligence and open-mindedness had a transformative impact on education in North America. 

It’s November 12, and on this day in 1968, Tinker v. Des Moines was argued in the Supreme Court. 

To this day, the 7 – 2 decision in favor of Tinker represents a landmark case for student expression and First Amendment Rights in schools.

It’s November 11th and on this day in 1821, Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky was born 

The world renowned Russian novelist, born in Moscow, would become known as one of the most influential writers of the modern era.

It is November 10th and on this day in 1969 Sesame Street debuted on public television.

Sesame Street was America’s first educational program for children and, amazingly, is still running today, making it one of the longest-running American programs right up there alongside shows like General Hospital, Jeopardy!, and The Tonight Show. The broadcasts started on the National Educational Television network, which in 1970 turned into the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and has only recently shifted over to HBO.

It’s November 9th and on this day in 1934 American astronomer, Carl Sagan was born. Sagan worked for NASA, studied extraterrestrial life, taught as a professor, wrote books, advocated against nuclear weapons, and created and hosted one of the most popular television shows to ever be broadcast on PBS. And in doing all of these things he changed the way most Americans viewed astronomy and scientists.

It's November 8th, and during this week in 1994, the US v. Lopez case was argued. 

This case would ultimately lead to the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 being amended. 

It would also mark the first time since 1937 that the court held to limit the power of Congress under the Commerce Clause.

It’s November 7th, and on this day in 1967, Congress created the Public Broadcasting Act.

This Act allowed comprehensive access to non-commercial public radio, television, and online and mobile public communication. The act established the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, or CPB, whose mission it was to provide content to the world that would promote public education.

It’s November 6, and on this day in 1991, the 2.0 version of the Maximus Bulletin Board System was released. 

Before the commercialization of the internet in the mid-1990s, Maximus, along with other Bulletin Board Systems (or BBSs for short), made use of dial-up connections to allow computer users to chat with each other.

It’s November 5th, and on this day in 1879, James Clerk Maxwell, died at age 48.

James Clerk Maxwell was a renowned Scottish mathematician and physicist.