State-Supported Common Schools
(1820-1865)
Module 2.4
State supported common schools was not
a very popular idea. Those in favor tended to be city residents and
nontaxpayers, democratic leaders, and the working people. Those who opposed were
rural residents, taxpayers, members of old aristocratic and conservative
groups,owners of private schools, members of conservative religious sects, and
Southerners. The first state-supported high school in the United States was
established in 1821. It was called Boston English Classical School.
Horace Mann
Horace Mann (1796-1859) was a well known
spokesperson for common schools. He was a lawyer, Massachusetts senator, and the
first secretary of a state board of education. He is best known for his fight
for the common school movement.
During the late 1830's, Mann felt that
teachers needed more than a high school education in order to teach. He and
other influential educators such as Catherine Beecher (1800-1878), felt that
teachers needed a formal education. Beecher, whose sister, Harreit Beecher Stowe
wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin,campaigned to make certain that women had the
same education as men. She contributed significantly to the development of
publicly funded schools for training teachers. The first normal school opened in 1839. Massachusetts established a system of common schools and
other states soon followed.
McGuffey's Readers
Reverend William Holmes
Mcguffey(1800-1873) created the Mcguffey readers which emphasized hard work,
honesty, truth, charity, and obedience. This series had a great impact on what
children learned. These books had a religious, moral and ethical influence
millions of American children. These readers taught both children and adults how
to read.
Morril Land-Grant
Act
An 1862 act that provided federal land that
states could sell or rent to raise funds to establish colleges of agriculture
and mechanical arts. This was sponsored by Congressman Justin S. Morrill
(1810-1898). This act set a president for the federal government to take an
active role in the progress of higher education.
Activity
Please label this 2.5 Common Education For
All?
Some people have suggested eliminating compulsory education beyond the
eighth grade to prevent high-school students who do not want to be in
school from disrupting the education of others. What do you think about
such a measure? What types of schools would be designed for the remaining
students? What alternatives (if any) should be provided for those who
left? |
Vocabulary
Common Schools-free
state-supported schools that provide education for all students.
Normal Schools-schools that
focus on the preparation of teachers.
Mcguffey Readers-an immensely
popular series of reading books for students in grades one through six, written
in the 1830's by Reverend William Holmes Mcguffey.
Morril Land -Grant Act-an 1862
act that provided federal land that states could sell or rent to raise funds to
establish colleges of agriculture and mechanical arts
