Horace Mann and the Moral Crusade for Common Schools

Why Mann? Often considered the ‘father’ of common school movement Often considered the ‘father’ of common school movement Worked tirelessly as an advocate of common public schooling his entire adult life Worked tirelessly as an advocate of common public schooling his entire adult life Wide and complex variety of arguments in favor of common schooling Wide and complex variety of arguments in favor of common schooling

An Early Reformer Advocate of social justice for all Advocate of social justice for all Favored economic development as path towards improving the living standard of all citizens Favored economic development as path towards improving the living standard of all citizens Temperance Temperance Asylums for ‘insane’ Asylums for ‘insane’ Alternatives to debtors’ prison Alternatives to debtors’ prison

Mann Becomes Secretary Becomes Secretary of Education of Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1837) Becomes Secretary of Education of Commonwealth of Massachusetts (1837) First SecEd in history! First SecEd in history! Devotes his life for the next 12 years to establishing common schools as a means of alleviating social and economic division Devotes his life for the next 12 years to establishing common schools as a means of alleviating social and economic division

Protestant Republicanism Concept of ‘Protestant Republicanism’ Concept of ‘Protestant Republicanism’ Built off values of Protestantism of early settlers Built off values of Protestantism of early settlers Evolved to become a non-sectarian, secular morality Evolved to become a non-sectarian, secular morality Avoided emphasis on any one version of Protestantism Avoided emphasis on any one version of Protestantism Broad Christian principles of morality Broad Christian principles of morality Assimilation of various groups into mainstream Assimilation of various groups into mainstream

The Role of the State in Protestant Republicanism Major and necessary role! Major and necessary role! State influence was vital to ensure economic and social reform State influence was vital to ensure economic and social reform Local communities not always willing to embrace change! Local communities not always willing to embrace change! The Problem of Localism The Problem of Localism State and reformers unable to truly eliminate sectarianism from local community schools State and reformers unable to truly eliminate sectarianism from local community schools Is it even possible (or right)? Is it even possible (or right)?

Justify your Love (of the common school) Why should wealthy support common schools? Why should wealthy support common schools? 5 th Annual Report (1842) 5 th Annual Report (1842) Education creates: Education creates: Safe and malleable workers Safe and malleable workers Less likely to drink or be incompetent Less likely to drink or be incompetent More stable home life, more likely to attend church More stable home life, more likely to attend church Reinforce the social stratification! Reinforce the social stratification!

Mann’s Argument Education prevents social disorder and a disruption of the system! Education prevents social disorder and a disruption of the system! Respect for property Respect for property Work ethic Work ethic Recognition of roles in society Recognition of roles in society Respect and docility for authority and especially capitalism Respect and docility for authority and especially capitalism Capitalism equated with morality! Capitalism equated with morality!

Property and Taxation Tenth Annual Report (1846) Tenth Annual Report (1846) Attacked those wealthy who complained about use of property taxes to support schooling Attacked those wealthy who complained about use of property taxes to support schooling Common schools benefit the entire community, so demand the support of the entire community! Common schools benefit the entire community, so demand the support of the entire community! Property as intended “for the benefit and subsistence of the whole race…,collectively.” Property as intended “for the benefit and subsistence of the whole race…,collectively.”

Right to an Education Mann associated the ‘pursuit of happiness’ with the right of a child to a quality education Mann associated the ‘pursuit of happiness’ with the right of a child to a quality education Necessary not only for the stability of society but also as the duty of moral Christianity Necessary not only for the stability of society but also as the duty of moral Christianity 10 th Report led to adoption of first true compulsory ed law in Massachusetts 10 th Report led to adoption of first true compulsory ed law in Massachusetts

The Working Class Appeal Twelfth Annual Report (1848) Twelfth Annual Report (1848) Schools as the only way to prevent the division of society based on class Schools as the only way to prevent the division of society based on class Avoided domination of capital and servility of labor Avoided domination of capital and servility of labor ‘the great equalizer of the conditions of men-the balance wheel of the social machinery’ ‘the great equalizer of the conditions of men-the balance wheel of the social machinery’ How does this appeal compare to the appeal to the wealthy? How does this appeal compare to the appeal to the wealthy?

Opposing the Mann Basic Purpose of Moral Education Basic Purpose of Moral Education Was there truly a social crisis? Was there truly a social crisis? Differences in pedagogy Seventh Annual Report (1843) Seventh Annual Report (1843) All children are different and must be guided, not forced, where they need to be All children are different and must be guided, not forced, where they need to be Boston schoolmasters demanded emulation approach! Boston schoolmasters demanded emulation approach!

Challenging the Masters Corporal punishment Corporal punishment Mann: counterproductive! Mann: counterproductive! Masters: maintained order and decorum Masters: maintained order and decorum Reading Instruction Reading Instruction Mann: whole word and child centered Mann: whole word and child centered Masters: phonics and teacher directed Masters: phonics and teacher directed Mann viewed as inexperienced dreamer Mann viewed as inexperienced dreamer

The True Appeal of Mann Women loved the Mann! Women loved the Mann! Mann’s approach and beliefs appealed to an increasingly feminized work force! Mann’s approach and beliefs appealed to an increasingly feminized work force! Child centered, morally persuasive education and discipline Child centered, morally persuasive education and discipline Appeal to the needs of the community and society and limitation on divisions Appeal to the needs of the community and society and limitation on divisions