A Historical Study on the Development of Science Education in the United States - The Development of Science Education at the Secondary Schools (1751-1910) -

Abstract

The history of science education in American secondary schools begins with the establishment of an academy in 1751. From 1751 to the 1910's is considered to be the most important period to clarify the process how science education started in the U. S. This study reviews the process how science education were introduced and organized in academies and high schools using the data surveyed by Miller, G. F. (1922), Stout, J.E. (1921), and Mulhern, J. (1933). 1.The number of kinds of school subjects on science increased as academies developed. After 1850, however, the number of kinds of subjects on science continued to decrease until the 1910's, because some of the subjects were integrated. 2.Physics (or natural philosophy) and Chemistry kept the position as the most important subjects in academies or high schools since when they were introduced in the 1750's. 3.Some of the subjects on natural philosophy started to change their names for the physics from the first-half of the 1860's. By the 1890's, physics became popular as a subject name. 4.Botany and physiology were introduced in academies around 1830. Zoology was introduced around 1845. 5.Natural history was introduced in academies around 1830. After 1870, however, the rate of offering of the subject in high school curricula started to decrease, and could not be found in any schools by the 1900's. 6.Astronomy was introduced in the 1810's. Since the 1870's, the rate of offering of astronomy in high school curricula has been decreasing. 7.Physical geography kept the position as one of the most important subjects between 1830 and 1910. However, the offering rate of physical geography in high school curricula has been decreasing since the 1910's. 8.A subject called biology was introduced in high school curricula in the 1880's. Since the first introducing, the subject got a position as one of the most important high school subjects. 9.A subject called general science was introduced in high school curricula in the 1910's.