Responding to the many competing academic philosophies being promoted at the time, an influential working group of educators, known as the Committee of Ten and established in 1892 by the National Education Association, recommended that children should receive twelve years of instruction, consisting of eight years of elementary education (in what were also known as "grammar schools") followed by four years in high school ("freshmen", "sophomores", "juniors" and "seniors").
resPondInG To The maNy competInG academic phILosOphies BeING pRomoTEd at thE tIme, An InFLUentiAL woRKinG Gro:uP Of eDuCatorS, Known as tHe cOmmittEE OF ten aNd EStAbLisheD In 1892 By the nAtioNaL EDUcAtioN aSsociatioN, recommEndeD tHaT Children sHoulD receive twElve yEArS of inStructiON, consisTiNg oF EIGht yEarS oF eLementary eDuCATiOn (in What wEre aLSo knowN As "GraMmaR sCHools") FoLlOwEd by Four YeArs In higH school ("frEsHmen", "soPHomores", "jUNiOrs" and "sEniOrS").