8.6.5

Trace the development of the American education system from its earliest root, including the roles of religious and private schools and Horace Mann’s campaign for free public education and its assimilating role in American culture.
             Education, knowledge and skill obtained in a learning process, in America has experienced dramatic changes. Education has become necessary in our generation while in colonial times, education was either about religion or optional; one could be illiterate and still succeed financially. Knowing how to interpret the written word was only necessary to read the Bible for the majority of the people. In these modern times, “Education is a necessity, it helps to understand life.” (Jacques Roumain, 1907-1945) Elementary school education is mandatory and higher education is necessary for acquiring an employment.
             American education was really started before the United States was born; it began with the Pilgrims, or Puritans. Puritans strictly interpreted the Bible and were religiously motivated to educate; Puritans desired a perfect social lifestyle, so they were exceptionally emphasized on the education of the children. Puritans were determined to enlighten their children of the evils of the world; Puritans desired to “purify” the church and lifestyle. Generally, boys were the ones educated as girls were trained to be housewives. Informal daycares named “dame schools” offered education for six to eight year old boys. In the early 1600s, after graduating “dame school,” the young boy would often become an apprentice to his father.
             However, in 1635, the first formal school was founded and specified Roxbury Latin School and offered free education to children. Institutions like the Latin School were founded due to the anxiety and worry of Puritans that the learned leaders of their lifestyle would disappear. These schools along with the “dame schools” were very strongly influenced by religion. High positions in the educational system would often go to highly religious people. Only four years later, the (now) oldest American College, Harvard, was founded in Cambridge. However, since these schools were predominantly for future religious, state or court leaders, most people continued to have their children apprenticed.
             Laws for education came in 1642 when the state of Massachusetts made it required that children must have knowledge of religious principles and laws. It also stated guardians of the child are responsible for educating the child. Also, because it was believed that illiteracy was Satan’s way of withholding the Bible from the people, children and servants needed to be literate. In 1647, formal schooling became more popular and laws were passed forcing families to hire educators for their children to reinforce the laws of 1642. Through the 1700s, education was still strongly linked with religion, thus most, if not all, schools were religious ones. Without religion, the education system in America might not have existed.
             In 1785, the Ordinance of 1785 was passed and offered more land for United States citizens. The law set aside a certain area for a school and separate areas for religious buildings. Before, schools were not mandatory in all states. Some states, especially the southern ones, did not have schools due to rural land; they continued apprenticeship. The Ordinance showed that Congress was trying to make education mandatory. In 1787, the Northwest Ordinance was passed and in Article Three it states, “… schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.” Obviously, Congress had begun to realize education’s importance.
             Leaders in the Revolutionary Era also had opinions and contributions to education. Thomas Jefferson, after his presidency, designed and founded the University of Virginia. Jefferson desired the university to be a place where students would enjoy the ability to learn. Jefferson knew that without education, “our republic must go down to destruction…” Jefferson contributed to the Constitution, which separated church and state so that religion was not the primary focus of education. Benjamin Franklin also supported education, as he believed it would solve problems in the community. Benjamin Rush authored an essay about the importance of education and what should be taught. This essay described twenty subjects in which Rush thought was important including: how vital education is to America, what women should learn, a guideline for the American curriculum and how Greek and Latin are irrelevant American education.
             Despite the Founding Fathers interest in education, Horace Mann was “The Father of American Education.” Born in Massachusetts on May 4, 1796, Mann graduated law school held numerous political positions including state senator. His most significant role, however, was Secretary of Education for Massachusetts; as secretary he immeasurably enhanced education in the United States. Mann hypothesized that if education improved, poverty would disappear and crime rates would drop. Before Mann’s campaigns, only certain areas offered free education; afterwards, all states had accepted that education was essential and needed to be supported by taxes. Mann’s campaign consisted of multitudinous public meetings and conventions; Mann was not disturbed by the number of people that came to these meetings. Mann used facts and statistics and published the Common School Journal to spread his ideas. Mann also targeted the training of the teachers and their salaries. Mann’s contented personality also appealed to many people; Mann had started the reform of American Education.
             Even with Mann’s meaningful contributions to education, there was still much to be accomplished. Although the states had adopted the concept that education should be free, tax supported and required, some still believed education was a private matter. In addition, women and African Americans still did not have much opportunity to be educated. African Americans were discriminated and denied rights to education. Political speakers like Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois had serious views that impacted education. However, probably the most significant event relating to the subject happened decades after Du Bois and Washington published their books.
             Linda Carol Brown had been forced to attend a certain school because it was an all black school away and had been denied admission to a school because of her race. Linda’s father, along with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, filed a lawsuit, which would soon be taken to the Supreme Court along with other similar cases from other states This case would be known as Brown v. Board of Education. Four years passed and on May 17, 1954, Chief Justice Earl Warren gave his decision: “To separate [elementary- and secondary-school children] from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone. We conclude that in the field of public education, the doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.”
             It was clear that the Supreme Court had made its decision in favor of all African Americans. This decision was not easily accepted; many cities continued segregation of schools and in several cases, even years after the decision, African Americans had to be escorted to school. Even with the problems in enforcing this ruling, this decision not only helped African Americans receive a better opportunity for education, but because it was a Supreme Court ruling, it was a enormous step forward for equal rights and anti-segregation of African Americans.
             Schools were still changing at this time. Principals of schools was a new idea; principals were first teacher-principals who did many jobs until a high school had a leader of the school who was a teacher-principal. Elementary Schools adopted this idea and teacher-principals became principals with the sole job of managing the school. Also, as more children began attending school, the one classroom school was too varied with different ages and levels of learning. This led to the separation of school in to grades and eventually also led to middle/junior high school.
             Clearly, education in the United States has changed tremendously but the education’s goal remains to be to train the children for the future. Education has gone from optional to mandatory, one-room classrooms to division by grades, and from a private matter to a federal concern. Education has also helped unite the nation by helping eliminate racial segregation. Education has had its lasting impact on American history and even though it will go through changes, passing knowledge to the future generation will be an important priority.


Historical Documents:

   1.    Jan Amos Comenius, Didactica Magna (1642)
          Book that outlined Comenius’ educational system and influenced America’s system.

   2.    Benjamin Rush, “Thoughts Upon the Mode of Education Proper in a Republic” (1786)
          Outlines Rush’s plan for an American education system.

   3.    Congress, The Northwest Ordinance, Article 3 (1787)
          Shows federal governments interest in education.

   4.    Horace Mann, “The Common School Journal" (1837)
          A newsletter used by Mann to help spread his ideas about education.

   5.    Booker T. Washington, The Awakening of the Negro (1896)

   6.    W.E.B Du Bois, The Training of Black Men (1902)
          Both men express their views on civil rights and education for African American education in these books.


More Information:

   1.    http://www.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7/
          History of American Education-extensive amounts of information relating to American Education; organized chronologically, then by topic.

   2.    http://www.stanford.edu/~mzander/201%20midterm%20paper.html
          The Success of Horace Mann-(essay) biography of Horace Mann with a focus on his campaign for education with bibliography.

   3.    http://www.edst.purdue.edu/georgeoff/hist_am_ed/welcome.html
          History of American Education-outlines subjects about the American Education; only contains SUBJECTS.


Recommended Books:

   1.    Pillars of the republic: Common school and American society, 1780-1860
          by C. F. Kaestle

   2.    American Reformers 1815-1860
          by R.G. Walters

   3.    Horace Mann: Educator, patriot and reformer
          by G. A Hubbell

   4.    Education and Social Change in Nineteeth-Century Massachusetts
          by C. F. Kaestle & M. A. Vinovskis