Horace MannPresentation by Rebecca Agostino

and Douglas Schall

Our SurveyThroughout this presentation, you will be prompted to answer questions through an online survey. Please only complete the question in the powerpoint directions (no peaking ahead!) The results will be shared on the discussion board at the end of the week. All responses will be recorded anonymously

The green button symbol (around this text box) will remind you to refer back to the survey

GUIDING QUESTIONSWhat is the purpose of

education? Who should benefit from our public education system?

Who should finance public education? Should this financial burden be shared equally?

Is education a natural right?

Background on Horace Mann (Baines, 2006, 269)

Worked first as a lawyer, and then as a senatorTireless advocate for not only public education,

but also good public educationPromoted institutions to train teachers and

establish librariesAlso was a strong proponent of physical educationMann considered education the "antidote" to

many issues that plagued society, including "poverty, crime, poor health, ignorance…" (Mann, 1891, 269)

What is the Purpose of Public Education? Before you start-

what do you think? You should complete “Purpose of Education” Parts I and II on the survey

Cornell West believes that the role of education is to prepare one for their eminent death.

Don’t believe me? Watch this clip.

AND: The Massachusetts 1647 Charter on Education asserted that, “’every town with 100 families’ was required to ‘set up a grammar school’ whose master should be ‘able to instruct youth so far as they are fitted for university.’’’ (Valentine, 1891, p.108)

Respond to this quote through the next question on the survey!

So What did Mann think?Mann argues that free and universal education is, “indispensable to the continuance of republican government.” (Mann, 1891, p.113)

“Mann envisioned a “common school” that would unite all citizens—of varied religions, ethnic backgrounds, socioeconomic levels, and professions—into one community, educated in the values of a basically white Protestant society.” (Berkman, 2009, p.253)

2 sides of the argumentWithout public

education… Mann asserted that,

society, as a whole, would be harmed if all did not participate in educating the younger generations: “They who refuse to train up children in a way they should go are training up incendiaries and madmen to destroy property and life, and to invade and pollute the sanctuaries of society.” (Valentine, 1891, p.129)

But…Think about it! What are

some downsides to public education? (We know you are in an education program! Don’t worry- your responses are anonymous…)Enter your thoughts into the survey

Who Should Finance Public Education?

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Survey time! Complete the question following the title page “Financing Public Education”

Mann asserted that it was the government’s responsibility to foot the bill for the country’s educational system because government has a moral obligation to protect the rights of the minority (i.e. the youth), by ensuring their access to the shared intellectual property from past generations (Valentine, 1891, p.126)

This is the manifestation of Mann’s greatest fears (of young people being denied an education).

“They who refuse to enlighten the intellect of rising

generations are guilty of degrading the human race.”

(Valentine, 1891, p.129)

Mann’s serious about this!! Really serious. He feels that it’s societies MORAL DUTY to provide all citizens with an education.  “…any community, whether nation or state, that ventures to organize a government, or administer a government already organized, without making provisions for the free education of all its children, dares the certain vengeances of Heaven, and in the squalid forms of poverty and destitution, in the scourges of violence and misrule, in the heart destroying corruptions of licentiousness and debauchery and in political profligacy and legalized perfidy, in all the blended and mutually aggravated crimes of civilization and barbarism, will be sure to feel the terrible retribution of its delinquency. (Mann, 1891, p.130)

Do you agree? To what extent??

“Every Child”"In 1642, the General Court of the colony, by a

public act, enjoined upon the municipal authorities the duty of seeing that every child within their respective jurisdictions should be educated." (106)

Survey time! Complete the next question in the survey.

Thanks to civil rights activists, parents, students, teachers, and administrators, ALL children today must receive a Fair and Appropriate Education (FAPE), regardless of disability. However, some people think that we should modify our rules and/or expectations around students with special needs. What do you think?

What’s the legal rationale for Government to extract money from its citizens in order to pay for the enterprise of public education?

Mann believed that the legal basis for the common school movement rested in what is called Natural Law, which “compels the state to provide [for] schools that prepare individuals to perform all the duties essential for citizenship.” (Grande, 2006, p.69)

Natural law asserts two things First

There is such a thing as human nature

SecondThe existence of this

nature means that there are certain basic goods that we should all pursue in our actions

Want to learn more?

Or even more? (please excuse the advertisement that precedes the video)

Opposing Viewpoints (Berkman,2009,

252) Mann

According to Mann, all students should be a part of a “common school” community

On the other hand…

This might imply that school choice threatens the public school values, by allowing parents to “opt out” of the public education

Whose side are you on? Go to the survey to identify where on the spectrum you fall

More opposing viewpoints (Baines, 2006, 270)

MannViewed education as

compulsory

On the other hand…

Many poor families wanted their children to work, as they needed income merely to sustain their households

The beginning of this video describes many opponents of Mann, and current education reformers, quite well

Whose side are you on? Go to the survey to identify where on the spectrum you fall

CitationsBaines, Lawrence (2005, Fall- 2006, Summer). A school for the common good: does Horace Mann still matter.

Educational Horizons, 84(2), 268-274

 Berkman, James S. (2009, Fall). Mann’s democratic vision of school choice. Schools: Studies in Education, 6(2), 251-256

 Brick, Blanch (2005). Changing concepts of equal education opportunity: A comparison of the views of Thomas Jefferson, Horace Mann, and John Dewey. American Educational History Journal, 32(2), 166-174

Citations

 Grande, Albert (2006, November). Education as a natural right. St. John’s Journal of Legal Commentary, 21(1), 63-72

 Valentine (1891). Foundations in education: life and works of Horace Mann, vol. IV. Boston: Lee

and Shepard, 105-140