Horace Mann
Becky Clifton
HIS 324
Elena Lattarulo
October 17, 2011
Clifton 2…
Horace Mann
Horace Mann was an educator and a statesman. He greatly advanced the cause of universal, free, nonsectarian public schools. Mann’s preferred cause was education. His remark that while “other reforms are remedial; education is preventative.” In 1837 Mann became Secretary to Massachusetts Board of Education. Most of his educational policies stemmed from his belief in the perfectibility of humanity and society through adherence to naturally revealed moral citizenry. During Mann’s tenure he increased the funding available to schools, improved the preparation and support of teachers, and advocated for compassionate discipline. Mann believed children in public schools should be taught the ethical principles common across Christianity, but not those doctrines about which different sects disagreed. Today Mann is still criticized by both sides. Religious conservatives often blame him for taking the steps that lead to the complete secularization of public school systems. Liberals sometimes criticize his lack of interest in making public education more comfortable for non-Christians. Mann’s compromise was possibly the Clifton 3…
Horace Mann
only one that could have both sides satisfied. During one of Mann’s speeches he claimed that “slavery would abolish education, if it should invade a free state; education would abolish slavery, if it could invade a free state.”
In 1848 Horace Mann declared that in America, common, public schools would be “the balance wheel of the social machinery.” This is what has kept public schools attractive to most of the public in most parts of the country for the past century and a half. Americans have consistently believed that common public schools are necessary to teach common values, common knowledge of the political systems, respect for institutions, respect for property, and other values that are needed to keep a democratic system from flying apart. Even today the values and the curriculum of the “common” public schools remain skewed towards the cultural institutions and beliefs of traditional American Protestants.
Clifton 4…
Horace Mann
Horace Mann is the nation’s best-known advocate for universal, free public education. Mann answered that money spent on schools today is money saved on prisons tomorrow.
Clifton 5…
References
Susan Ritchie (1999-2011) Unitarian Universalist History and Heritage Society (UUHHS) www25.uua.org Victory of the Common School Movement (2008)
Iipdigital.usembassy.gov
References: Susan Ritchie (1999-2011) Unitarian Universalist History and Heritage Society (UUHHS) www25.uua.org Victory of the Common School Movement (2008) Iipdigital.usembassy.gov
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Hagedorn begins to tell his view of American public schools and how evangelical purposes were established during this era. Horace Mann’s role as the founder of our public schools is a myth. Surprisingly, he found that most historians have ignored the Christian philosophy, motives, and leaders that laid the foundation of that vital institution. Hagedorn discovered that the teaching of…
- 174 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
Horace Mann was a distinguished reformer for the education system for the public; he stated “ignorance is a crime” in hopes of remodeling the education system that was present. Being a son of a poor farmer, education was hard to find in his early life but became a determined student and soon advanced to studying law at the Litchfield Law School. He entered the Massachusetts House of Rep. in 1827 then moved onto state Senate in 1833. While being on legislation, Mann supported many reforms such as, the establishment of state hospitals for the insane, restriction of slavery, and many educational improvements. Mann helped secure the passage of an education bill which instituted a state board of education.…
- 309 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Erika Christakis, in “The War on Public Schools” (Atlantic 2017), argues that the public school system in the U.S has been denigrated. Christakis supports her arguments by telling how most of the Americans have lost faith in the public school system, demonstrating how even the secretary of education Betsy DeVos see the public school system as a dead end, explaining how articles and documentaries as “Waiting for Superman” had led to false conclusions about the teachers unions, and finally, describing how the public school achievements have been minimized. Christakis’s purpose is to inform readers about the conditions of the public education system in the U.S in order to create interest about the current system of education. Christakis uses a…
- 135 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
One of Horace’s belief was the separation of religion and politics, and he advocated for an educational system based on the aggregation of humanity and moral standards that are prevalent in Christian teachings. In doing so, Mann was heavily criticized by both ends of the spectrum. On one side, they argued that Mann’s method in derailing religion within the educational made him an anti-Christian in a sense, while others were convinced that this was nothing more than a deliberate attempt for Mann to further his own agenda in his own belief of a single god and the inner workings of the human mind. The educational system flourished under his administration as the generalization of his principles in teaching didn’t fall too much on the conservative side, but it also did not skew away too far towards liberal…
- 624 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Mark Twain once observed that a cat that jumps on a hot stove, it will learn a valuable lesson and in the future will not jump on hot stoves. Twain wryly points out that the cat will not also jump on cold stoves, either. The lesson it learned - -just as humans learn - - rather than make informed distinctions, it becomes easier to simply avoid the situation altogether. In John Taylor Gatto’s article, “From the Land of Frankenstein,” the former award winning teacher condemns the integrity of the American public education system, asserting it. In actuality, focuses more on training students for obedience rather than attempting to develop each individual’s talents and abilities. The American public education system destroys individual initiative in order for students to become more manageable parts in the overall social order in the country accomplishing this goal by rewarding compliance and discouraging individuality and ensuring dependant and obedient response to authority through curricula enforces students to respond passively to governing entities, and finally punishing those individuals who resist or refuse to assimilate the lessons with escalating levels of negative reinforcement. How much more evidence is necessary? Good schools don’t need more money or a longer year; they need real free-market choices, variety that speaks to every need and runs risks. We don’t need a national curriculum, or national testing either. Both initiatives arise from ignorance of how people learn, or deliberate indifference to it.” Our schools need to teach the values of free speech and individualism. Why do they continue to provide teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, or Abraham Lincoln who were big on freedom for mankind? But contradict by not allowing our kids express themselves openly. Dr. King once said “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Our children need to be taught the values of being able to make right choices and to be an…
- 740 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Horace Mann was born on May 4th, 1796 in the small Calvinist town of Franklin, Massachusetts. He is well-known as an ardent abolitionist, a social reformer, and a visionary educator in present day society. Horace had little formal education as a youth, but he didn’t allow that to limit his intelligence. He read extensively at the town library as a child, where he eventually learned enough to be admitted to the prestigious Brown University. After graduating from Brown in 1819 as valedictorian, he proceeded to study law at Litchfield Law School for a period of three years. Mann moved to Denham, Massachusetts after graduating from law school and opened his first law practice. He also decided to become involved in politics, where…
- 328 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
In the story “Against school: How public education cripples our kids, and why” the author, John Taylor Gatto, establishes the idea of how public education can lead to a negative impact on students. School train kids, “[to become] employees and consumers…” (Gatto 231) instead of teaching kids how to deal with certain situations that my come across in life. The story was directed to parents with kids in elementary school.…
- 458 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
He believed that one room school houses should be eliminated and children should have a proper education taught by well trained and professional teachers. In addition to his beliefs, Mann had six fundamental propositions regarding his thoughts on proper education and the benefits of it. These propositions included, a republic cannot be ignorant and free, that education should be paid for, sustained, and controlled by the interested public, schools should embrace children of all religious, social and ethnic background. The three other propositions being, schools should be free of religious and sectarian influence, education must be spread by spirit, method, and a discipline free society which prevent harsh pedagogy(teaching practice) in classrooms, and too much community control will result in and improper education. Mann was relatively politically active and participated in the House of Representatives from 1827-1833, served in the Massachusetts senate…
- 641 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
In the article named “Report of the Massachusetts Board of Education” by Horace Mann, the author explains that school is an integral step to prepare for students to be aware of the responsibilities of becoming good citizens. On the other hand, the text “Against Schools” by John Taylor Gatto emphasizes that the role of the school system is not necessary in society since it forces students to go to school and sit around in classes for a certain amount of hours for twelve years, but many students feel useless and bored with the school curriculum. Although Mann makes a good point when he says school is important for student’s future, I must disagree with Mann and agree with Gatto because of my own educational…
- 1165 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
John Gatto’s “Against School” is a persuasive essay arguing both the ineffectiveness and negative outcomes of today’s public school system. Not only does Gatto provide credibility with his experience as a teacher, but he also presents historical evidence that suggests that the public school system is an outdated structure, originally meant to dumb down students as well as program them to be obedient pawns in society. Fact and authority alone do not supplement his argument. Gatto also uses emotional appeals, such as fear and doubt, to tear down the reader’s trust in the schooling system. Although it may seem to be so, Gatto’s argument is not one sided. He also offers suggestions to make the educational system more efficient at the hands of positive reinforcement and the employment of more motivated teachers. Through the effective application of ethos, logos, and pathos, John Gatto provides a well-rounded argument against the public school system that would cause any reader to question the goals of modern schooling.…
- 1386 Words
- 6 Pages
Better Essays -
Cited: Gatto, John T. "Against School: How Public Education Cripples Our Kids and Why." Readings For OSU Writers. 4th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 2010. Print.…
- 1299 Words
- 6 Pages
Better Essays -
The American education system has drastically declined due to a rise in mediocrity. At one time, America was the world leader in technology, service, industry, everything, but it seems that overconfidence and dormancy has caused our nation to fall behind the progressively growing competitive market in the world in regards to education. Other countries have a national standard for goals, requirements, and regulations. Currently, our education system is regulated by the states which implement their own curriculum, set their own requirements, and these findings reflect the need for change. Problems in education never end, so we need to keep changing and adapting. In this essay I will discuss the problems Horace Mann had with education, along with…
- 1415 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays -
Horace Mann is known as the father of the common schools. His concept for the common school stressed several principles, the biggest of them was the desire to create a foundation proficient for teaching and preparing students to build a more positive and thriving society. To achieve this desire, Mann advocated his ideas for what show education should be. First Horace Mann believed that…
- 1192 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
Education became an increasingly critical subject as time passed. Free public education started in 1828 and later it was innovated by Horace Mann. Mann is known as the “Father of Public Education”. Other important Educators were Noah Webster and William H.…
- 701 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
In his career, Mann struggled with many obstacles. He was forced to work on a farm with his father for the majority of this childhood, but being self-motivated , he studied at a library founded by Benjamin Franklin. Without much of an education, it was difficult for Mann to get admitted to a college. In his years in politics, it was also difficult for him to provide an equal education to children throughout America. Mann wanted a “common school”, or public school that all children can attend for free, but because of racial and social division in society, this was a challenging task to accomplish.…
- 647 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays