1. Horace Mann

2. Horace Mann

3. Mann and the Common Schools
Served as secretary to the Massachusetts State Board of Education
His powers limited to the collection and dissemination of information regarding education in Massachusetts. Nevertheless…
Created county educational conventions
Distributed annual reports
Established Common School Journal in 1839

4. Mann’s Central Issues School buildings Moral values
Lessons from the Prussian school system
School discipline
Quality of teachers
Economic value of schooling

5. School Buildings Improved physical setting of schools through
Dangerous conditions
Public encouragement for model districts
Publication of school expenditures by town
How does the quality of the physical environment affect teaching and learning?

7. Moral Values Schools as agents of social harmony
Irish immigrants vs. native workers
Rich vs. poor
Calvinists vs. liberal Christians
Moral values as “common elements” of the common school (including the KJV)

8. Lessons from the Prussian School System
Designed to develop Prussian nationalism and position German states for world leadership
Reinforced Mann’s support for free, state-financed, state- controlled universal and compulsory schools

9. Lessons from the Prussian School System
Aristocratic tier
Vorschule (academic-based)
Gymnasium (similar to university)
Military academics/universities
Common tier
Volkshule (Three Rs & Patriotism)
Workforce/technical schools/normal schools

10. School Discipline
Spoke out against harsh treatment of students (e.g, beat the devil out…)
The “pedagogy of love” rather than overt authoritarianism
Teacher’s responsibility as moral agent
Self-discipline ultimately supports self- government (necessary for society)

12. Quality of Teachers Emphasized need for special teacher preparation
Normal schools created with pedagogical methods dominating curriculum
Would train teachers for the volkschule
The feminization of teaching
The could be paid less
More nurturing of children (See Passage Below)

13. Success of Common School Reforms
Supported by diverse interests in Massachusetts, including financial interests
Mann’s “common elements” was a satisfactory compromise for (most) religious interests
Provided women with a profession