Reflection #12 How Sputnik changed education

After the launch of Sputnik, in the year 1958 during the month of August, the national defense education act was passed. This resulted in a revolutionary curriculum reform in math, science, and foreign languages. As the U.S.S.R had beaten the U.S. in the space race Eisenhower knew that education needed reform if we were going to compete on an international level in the future. Some of the features of the new education act were money and loans that the government made eligible to college students. This meant that more students could attend college, a large number of those students from social and economic backgrounds that would not have allowed them to go to college in the past. This remodeling of education also made its way into grade schools and high schools. The agenda was meant to improve math, science, and language facilities in these schools. This required teachers to become more proficient in these areas of study. The launching of Sputnik affected U.S. education because the U.S. did not have citizens qualified to work in the field of the space program. The continued success of the U.S.S.R in their space program led the national leader to question what was being taught. Eisenhower was confident in the U.S. educational system but made reforms regardless as he wanted the U.S. to grow as a society. Sputnik captured the attention of various Americans at the time. There were various commercial goods sold promoting Sputnik and many looked for Sputnik as a pass time. This led a kind of obsession which led to more questions about the universe. What was out there? This led to education on a mass scale. Not only in those who were wealthy and could afforded to be formally educated but, also those who wanted a better future for themselves and their family.