Early American Education System

The man with the greatest effect on the government’s relationship with schools is Horace Mann. Often called the “Father of American Education,” Horace Mann wasn’t

Public education in America began in the early to mid-19th century with the simple goal of “uniting the American population by instilling common moral and political values” (Spring, 2012, p. 5). Our country was founded by men who designed the constitution so that it could be amended to accommodate changing political and social climates. They believed in the ideology of the American dream which “holds out a vision of both individual success and the collective good of all” (Hochschild & Scovronick, 2004, p. 1). It is with this same ideology that our public schools were

Education in the late 1700’s and early 1800 was only available to those who had money. Public education was not available to everybody. Children who came from wealthy parents were able to learn how to read and write. These children went on to continue the cycle with their children. Schools came about when towns would pull their resources and higher teachers. The teachers were literally paid by bushels of wheat and half of a cow. School was based off the Bible. These facts and many more make me so grateful for not being born during this time. I love education and I love learning. I don’t know what I would do without the education I have received and continue to receive.

Thomas Jefferson remains one of the first advocates for public education, which was later termed the Common School Movement. He recognized the inequality in education, for the wealthy stood the only ones capable of affording an education, thus the poor stayed poor and the rich stayed rich. Jefferson aspired to change the apparent injustices in the education system. He felt all children possessed the right to and education regardless of prosperity, heritage, and circumstances. Even though Jefferson remained not able to create the change he so desperately sought to make, he never stopped trying and since education stayed revolutionized, for his persistence in equality. James Conant, former president of Harvard University stated, “In short, as I view the American scene of the 1960’s, I am ready to declare without hesitation that Jefferson’s proposals have become incorporated in the pattern of our educational structure” (Mercer, 1993).

During the age of reconstruction, the freedman’s bureau launched the opening of up to 1000 schools for African American children presiding in the south. An assortment of north- sponsored colleges made for African

Education in America is one of the most important issues that face our nation. If the education in America is not thought of one of most serious issues we face, our nation as a whole will fall. There are many debates and they seemly extend to all walks of life. The debates range from the decline in education, school vouchers, and the no child left behind law. As a nation, the United States is ranked above others. We must search for that solution to all of the pro’s and con’s in education. The solution should allow all walks of life to excel in the education realm. After all, the children of today will be the leaders of tomorrow.

Thomas Jefferson and Horace Mann had a large influence into our educational foundation. They fought for and persuaded many people into believing education was needed for all citizens. They also believed in separation of church and state. In this paper I will summarize each individuals influence on education as well as separation of church and state.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were mostly founded shortly after slavery ended in the United States of America. Christopher Brown II and Trimika Yates (2005) stated HBCUs were “ established as formal education centers to educate freed blacks, these institutions began with curriculum that stressed basic reading and math, as well as agricultural and mechanical training.” From that time until the end of 1890 more that 200 schools arise throughout the United States of America, all established with goal of providing an education for freed blacks. This was a significant time in the history of the United States, while Blacks were freed, segregation was still socially acceptable, it took more than 100 years before laws were passed to address segregation in United States of America.

Horace Mann was one of the most influential reformers in the history of American education. He was responsible for the Common School Movement, which was to ensure that every child receive free basic education funded by local taxes. Growing up in poverty where there was lack of access to education, the first secretary of Massachusetts Board of Education strongly believed that tuition- free education would be the “great equalizer,” and the key to fight against poverty and crime. As a result, Massachusetts’ residents were the

First and foremost, the American Educational System has received numerous advocates offering crucial inputs on education from centuries ago up to the present time. Even so, with focus, shining on past advocates, three well-known men who are still receiving constant acknowledgment for their ideas and contributions regarding the system. Notably, Dewey, Man, and Jefferson all share major impacts, alike and unlike, resulting in significant effects on the American Educational System.

According to Kenneth E. Redd from Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Making a Comeback, teachers in the 1800’s were white philanthropists. They were in southern states under auspices of the federal Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands (commonly known as the Freedmen Bureau), black churches and white philanthropists. They help to establish several colleges, Howard University, Atlanta University, (Clark Atlanta) St. Augustine College (North Carolina) Fisk University (Tennessee) and Johnson C. Smith (North Carolina). The first HBCUs were private, non-profit institutions and was funded by without government support.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities were established for African Americans during a time of strict segregation. During slavery, to keep African Americans afraid and submissive, White Americans had laws in place making it illegal for them to learn how to read and write. “For most of America’s history, African Americans who received a college education could only get it from an HBCU. Today, HBCUs remain one of the surest ways for an African American, or student of any race, to receive a high quality education.” The first Historically Black College and University to be established is formerly known as the Institute for Colored Youth founded by Richard Humpreys in 1837, approximately 26 years before slavery ended. “Today, this school is better known as Cheney University of Pennsylvania, the oldest African American institution of higher learning.” Two other institutions that were later established prior to the Civil War are Lincoln University founded in 1854 and Wilberforce

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) principle mission is the education of Black Americans (Redd, 1998). The first historically black colleges and universities were founded in the pre-Civil War years (mid-and-late-1800s). Cheyney Statae University (originally called The Institute for Colored Youth) was founded in Pennsylvania in 1837. This university was founded as a normal school by Pennsylvania Quakers. The first two post-secondary institutions specifically for Blacks were founded in 1854 and 1856. Ashmun Institute (later renamed Lincoln University of Pennsylvania), the first, was founded by Presbyterians and Wilberforce University in Ohio. The second was founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church. These institutions,

Without education, a society would have not have the proper tools needed to produce literature, write documents, or carry out worldly affairs. These shortcomings would lead to bigger problems as other countries advanced in greater educational feats. In 1831, a Frenchman named Alexis de Tocqueville published a book proclaiming America exceptional after observing the American lifestyle firsthand. De Tocqueville is justified in his claim, as the public school reform movement greatly benefited the American society as a whole. Horace Mann, a main educational reformer, can be credited for advocating the need of a uniformed public school system. His persistence and the modifications made during the public school reform movement display America’s

Life in New Zealand in the late 1800’s was looking quite grim. Section 89 presented in the 1877 Education act, was considered important at the time because the government wanted the notion of building a nation and society, improving the lives of individuals, developing an economy, and to integrate different groups into ‘the social contract’ (Codd, J., & Openshaw, R, 2005) Education was perceived as a formula for this to happen. The reasons for exemptions, was firstly as stated by Charles Bowen (1877) “that it was not the intention to encourage children whose vocation is that of honest labour to waste in higher schools time which might be better spent in learning a trade” (Stephenson,2009 p.9). It was considered enough to gain basic skills in