Mann about Education
Horace Mann was the first United States Secretary of Education and is referred to as the "Father of the Common School Movement." The Common School serves as the foundational idea to our modern educational system and how it is managed. He approached his post seriously and how he did so has determined the way policy and politicians have approached it since. Horace Mann had principles aligned with the Whig Party, principles that fit his post to the first Secretary of Education. Mann's principles determined his view of public education and paved the way for a public education system like the one we have in place today.
Mann was selected for this post for a couple of reasons: his influence and experience. What his "employers" were more concerned with was his influence, however. Public education, in the broader sense, is an idea that Thomas Jefferson had had for the union, but was an idea that had not come to fruition. It was an idea that had deep roots in broad social reform. The demographics of the union were changing rapidly as they were in Europe. The poor had less financial prospects for themselves and were turning to riots to express and solve their problems. The increase in riots would have been something Mann found troubling, and Mann made the argument that good public educations for America's children would solve these larger social issues.
Until then, religion had been viewed as a just way to keep the masses in control. Mann, a Unitarian, did not share the Puritan and Protestant views of old. He instead held very Socratic views that education would elevate civilization and buffer the concerns of the poor. He had a couple problems with his views once he viewed the schools of his district for himself. He found vast differences in quality of facilities, educational experience, and teacher credentials offered in each school. Each of these deficiencies seemed to bother Mann equally and were also equally pursued by Mann. As Secretary of Education, Mann would pursue these issues to correct them to the best of his abilities. He would improve facilities and funding for schools, make the first steps in "standardizing" schools and in public teacher certification.
Mann's ideas appear to have been wholly agreed upon and not questioned in the broader scope. He made progress and his success has deep implications for the public school system as it is today. First, his progress set the tone for further standardization in American public education. You'll not hear a complaint from me about this fact. Standardization changed the landscape for education and provided students with more equal opportunities for education. It ensured that there would be a trained teacher teaching students at any given school in his district. Second, his progress would ensure the political power that remains in education today.
Further reading on Mann:
Mann was selected for this post for a couple of reasons: his influence and experience. What his "employers" were more concerned with was his influence, however. Public education, in the broader sense, is an idea that Thomas Jefferson had had for the union, but was an idea that had not come to fruition. It was an idea that had deep roots in broad social reform. The demographics of the union were changing rapidly as they were in Europe. The poor had less financial prospects for themselves and were turning to riots to express and solve their problems. The increase in riots would have been something Mann found troubling, and Mann made the argument that good public educations for America's children would solve these larger social issues.
Until then, religion had been viewed as a just way to keep the masses in control. Mann, a Unitarian, did not share the Puritan and Protestant views of old. He instead held very Socratic views that education would elevate civilization and buffer the concerns of the poor. He had a couple problems with his views once he viewed the schools of his district for himself. He found vast differences in quality of facilities, educational experience, and teacher credentials offered in each school. Each of these deficiencies seemed to bother Mann equally and were also equally pursued by Mann. As Secretary of Education, Mann would pursue these issues to correct them to the best of his abilities. He would improve facilities and funding for schools, make the first steps in "standardizing" schools and in public teacher certification.
Mann's ideas appear to have been wholly agreed upon and not questioned in the broader scope. He made progress and his success has deep implications for the public school system as it is today. First, his progress set the tone for further standardization in American public education. You'll not hear a complaint from me about this fact. Standardization changed the landscape for education and provided students with more equal opportunities for education. It ensured that there would be a trained teacher teaching students at any given school in his district. Second, his progress would ensure the political power that remains in education today.
Further reading on Mann: