Lawrence Cremin The Importance Of Universal Education

Since the formation of the republic, popular education had been an idea waiting to happen. As the colonies prepared for statehood, Jefferson was urging his beloved Virginia to establish a few years of schooling "gratis" to ensure an extension of educational opportunity and at the same time "to rake the rubbish" in search of talent for the young republic (Jefferson 180l, 748). Washington, himself, was concerned that American youth by studying in Europe were "imbibing maxims not congenial with republicanism" and urged the creation of a national university and "a plan of universal education" (Washington 1795, 806).
Lawrence A. Cremin's earlier work, The American Common School: An Historical Conception (1951) is still a lucid and valuable introduction for
It does better than to disarm the poor of their hostility towards the rich; it prevents being poor.... The spread of education, by enlarging the cultivated class or caste, will open a wider area over which the social feelings will expand; and, if this education should be universal and complete, it would do more than all things to obliterate factitious distinctions in society.... The greatest of all art in political economy is to change a consumer into a producer; and the next greatest is to increase the producer's producing power;-an end to be directly attained, by increasing his education. (Mann 1848. 87-89)
1. How would you explain Mann's use of a "balance-wheel" to describe common schools? Why do you think Mann thought that metaphor would attract support for public schools in the 1840s?
2. How valid do you think "the balance-wheel" argument is today? More or less valid than 1848? Why?
3. What does this selection tell you about Mann's economic philosophy? Where would you place it on a spectrum ranging from socialism to