Blog #8

 

As the Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education in 1837, Horace Mann envisioned an inclusive school system for all children regardless of socioeconomic status and religious preferences. He advocated for longer school terms, systematic examinations, and training requirements for teachers. Mann “fervently believed in the power of education to resolve a range of social problems and to enhance the perfectibility of civilization. He viewed public schools as essential institutions of the emerging public” (79).

Mann’s vision of the ideal school system for all children could not be more different than the actual instructional practices in local public schools at the time. One of the most prevalent differences between his vision and popular beliefs involved religion. Public schools were plagued with intolerance and xenophobia of European immigrants such as the Irish. Americans viewed them as offenders to the dominant religion. Mann proposed nonsectarianism in common schools where children would not be directly exposed to favor of a particular religion but Calvinist church leaders in Massachusetts and Catholics alike “felt schools without connection to churches were Godless and immoral” (77).

Furthermore, the characteristics of Mann’s ideal school system were changes that required money. Thus, Mann spent a lot of time trying to gain support from political and social groups in reforming education. People did not want to support or invest in public education because they did not believe it was in their interest to do so. Mann argued “moral education was the most important element of popular schooling…and that such an education…would impart norms of proper behavior, teach respect for property and hard work, and help to prevent irresponsible behavior” (78). Additionally, Mann claimed that educated workers were “more productive and schooling added to the value of industrial output” (78). Although all of the preceding took a lot of time in being put into effect, the establishment of an attainable education would not have been possible without Mann’s efforts.