Horace Mann

Horace Mann was the father of the American School System. Horace Mann’s had many reforms on education. He was born in 1796. Mann determined what the purpose of education should be based on his own experience and observation. Mann also had many ideas how education could be improved. Many of these ideas have been followed by schools today as well. Mann also had ideas on topics which one considers today to be controversial. The public should take into account what Mann’s ideas were on these issues. Horace Mann’s reforms and ideas have had influence during his time, and now in our time on many issues. Some of issues the issues are the purpose of education and the improvement of education. The purpose of education is a large subject and Horace Mann covered it completely throughout his life. Even today the purpose of our schools is almost the same as what Horace Mann prescribed it should be long ago. Mann wanted the common schools to be available to everyone. He wanted it to be available to people that were rich, poor, and of different backgrounds. Public schools try to be this today; they are free to everyone and nondiscriminatory. Mann believed in public support and control of schools. Mann thought that education was a right that was passed on from generation to generation. Denying children this right was horrible to Mann. Today in the United States, education of the public is seen as a right and is partaken in by countless young people every year. Horace Mann thought that if children were taught well they would make good goverrment officials. Mann thought that schools must emphasize moral, civic, and cultural values. These ideas are what schools try to accomplish today. Mann believed in a common program in schools that would educate everyone. He thought that common schools should not teach vocational training, but instead offer an education beneficial to all. Schools today follow the same purpose that Mann laid out long ago.