Horace Mann
religious
always interested in reforms
WP: completely selfless
WP: believed in 2 classes (educated & ignorant)
personal letter: 1846, writing about new baby,
“He is a fine, healthy little fellow,
fat enough for an alderman, and has a
head planned and executed on the
principles of phrenology” (245).
[Life of Horace Mann]
“Education, religious and political freedom, then, were the
watchwords of his life and action”(60).
[Life of Horace Mann]
“A tireless determination and boundless energy fueled Horace
Mann to
improve the dire shape of public
schools.”
[www.pbs.org/kcet/publicschool/innovators/mann.html]
“Mann and his fellow reformers placed a major emphasis on
‘moral training’, standardization and classroom drill.”
[www.pbs.org/kcet/publicschool/innovators/mann.html]
12th Annual Report (1848) = 1. presented rationale
for the support of public ed. through taxation/everyone benefits from an educated
public, even those without children in school
2. use of bibles in school taught
fundamental doctrines of Christianity without reference to denominational
differences
personal interpretation: Mann was interested in “saving” society
Mann was in law profession, “He explained that laws failed
because they dealt with adults, whose character was already shaped, and the
real hope was in molding the child” (110).
[The American School]
school teachers replace police
“...according to Mann, common schooling would eliminate
the problems of the unequal distribution of property by increasing the general
wealth of society and, consequently, improving the economic conditions of
the poor”(113).
[The American School]
ed. = great equalizer of the condition of men (the balance)
Mann = teachers should avoid political talk in classroom to
lessen controversy
Mann = common set of morals /political views would reduce
violence/controversy
+ voting, - revolution & violence
“Horace Mann and other common school reformers made a lasting
contribution to the ongoing debate about the relationship between school and
society”(115).
[The American School]
notes from first history lecture:
Original purposes of school/functions of schooling:
1. Teach tools of society (math, reading, memorizing..now=computers)
2. Reinforce authority of ruling class
3. Maintain statue quo/social distinctions (class)
1,000 B.C. Hwang Ho, China added #4
4. Social renewal (people take exams to enter higher class,
for group not individual, prevents revolt)
Schooling = ideological management...managing populous
historyđideologyđschooling
pondering questions:
1. How would Horace Mann’s ideas fit in with today’s school
reformers?
2. Do any original functions of school seem to radiate from
Mann, or would Mann
agree with any of them, and why?
