Importance
What was the general importance of having public education?
It would allow everyday Americans to become aware of social and political issues.
What religious group mainly formed the first public schools?
Protestants
Who led the common-school movement and where did it occur?
Horace Mann led the common-schools movement in the northern and literacy colonies.
Where was the Education Reform most accepted?
The Education Reform was most accepted in the North because there was such an increase in industrialization, which directly led to Education Reforms, whereas the South kept a mostly agrarian culture.
What did the Education Reform do to free Black people?
Especially in the North, there were efforts to begin integrating schools, and even in the South, black schools began to pop up in the area.
What occupation did early schools train kids to fill?
Early public schools were formed to prepare children for industrial jobs in factories and textile mills
What did Horace Mann advocate for?
He advocated for state controlled boards of education, a more uniform curriculum, and greater state involvement in and teacher training.
What was the first state to begin education reform?
Massachusetts.
Why was there an increased importance on better education at the beginning of the Antebellum period?
People began to believe that a higher education led to good citizenship and moral education.
What factors lead to the creation and stabilization of public schools?
Public schools were funded by local taxes and were overseen by elected school officials.
What was Horace Mann’s occupation in this time period?
He was the Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education
What were the main reasons that education became popular?
It allowed for students to have opportunities to have success in life, become good citizens, and get out of poverty
How did public education improve society?
It increased the wealth of Americans, job productivity increased, and it led to more people being employed.
What year did education become compulsory?
1852.
In what environment did Horace Mann grow up in?
Horace Mann grew up in an environment ruled by poverty, hardship, and self-denial.
What subjects did teachers teach in schools during the 1800s?
Teachers taught reading, writing, arithmetic, history, grammar, and geography