1. Public Education and American Culture
Chapter 21-4
Public Education and American Culture

2. Educating Americans

3. Educating Americans
Before 1870, half of American children went to school.
As industry grew, so did the need for an educated work force.
Compulsory Education- requirement that children must attend school, usually through 6th grade.
Public and parochial- church sponsored

4. The School Day Typical day 8am to 4 pm. The Three R’s
Reading, Writing, ‘Rithmatic
Discipline was emphasized
Often times, punishment was swift and severe
Eventually more higher education schools were built
High schools, colleges and universities, trade schools

5. Read All About It! Extra Extra!
As more people were educated, more people read.
The newspaper boom was linked to the growth of cities.
Immigrants learned to read English.
Joseph Pulitzer created the first modern, mass-circulation newspaper.
William Randolph Hearst challenged Pulitzer, creating Yellow journalism- sensational news reporting

6. Read All About It! Many papers added comic strips to attract readers
To attract female readers, they added sections on fashion, homemaking, and family matters
Nellie Bly- famous female news reporter

7. New Reading Habits Magazines, journals, and books began to take off.
Dime novels- low priced paper backs that offered thrilling stories.
The Wild West, Rags to Riches tales
Realists- authors who tried to show the harsh side of life.

8. Painting Everyday Life
Many artists also began to capture local color- refers to speech or habits of a particular region.
"Gimme one Wiz, Wit!"
"Yinz"
"Who dat?"