1. EDN 200The Common School Era and the Progressive Era September 18, 2006

2. Today’s Plan • Reflection Cards • Pre-school visit • Horace Mann and the Common School Era

3. Pre-School Visit • Physical Facility • Students and Teachers • Curriculum and Pedagogy • Surprises

4. The Common School Era* Analytic Framework Schooling Goals & Practices Organization Teachers’ Experience Students’ Experiences Political Economy Institutions & Processes Social Economic Political Educational Ideology Shared Beliefs Shared Values Shared in Social Groups Tozer, 2006

5. Political Economy of the Common-School Era • Demographic Changes: • Major movement of citizens from coasts to mid-west • KY,TN,IN,OH,IL, & MI population grew from 110,000 in 1790 to 950,000 in 1810 • Massive immigration between 1820 & 1850 • Primarily Irish who overwhelmingly were poor, uneducated, and Roman Catholic • Increased urban living • 5% in 1790 to 20% in 1850 • Sparked industrial revolution

6. Political Economy of the Common-School Era • Political Developments • Increasing number of white males involved in politics • 15% qualified to vote in 1789 • Over 55% qualified in 1828 • Economic Developments • Development of Factories in the Northeast • Initially staffed by women and children – eventually replaced by immigrant men

7. Ideology of the Common-School Era • Religion: • Move from Puritanism • Very strict, harsh, punitive • To more humane view of God and religion • Reform rather than punish prisoners • Compassionate care for the mentally ill rather than isolation and mistreatment • Abhorrence of slavery part of world view

8. Ideology of the Common-School Era • Believed in growth of government to help promote economic freedom and growth • Negative to positive freedom • Government should promote education of all citizens • Mann and others promoted idea of affection in schools to help mold behavior and effort

9. Horace Mann “Men are cast iron; but children are wax.” • Mann was secretary to the Massachusetts’ State Board of Education from 1837-1848. • School Buildings: • Pushed for physical changes necessary to provide safe, clean, comfortable education for MA students • Moral Values: • “Common elements” of the common school • Attempted to convey religious, but nonsectarian values • Book selections brought heavy criticism • Brought him criticism from Calvinists and Catholics • Brought about large-scale development of Catholic parochial schools

10. Horace Mann • Discipline: • Believed that children should be approached through intelligence and love – “Pedagogy of love” • Should not be fear that causes students to comform • Believed physical punishment only necessary for children from poor homes • Those children raised without love and understanding would respond to punishment • Challenged teachers to continually reduce use of punishment

11. Horace Mann • Teachers • Most teachers had little training and saw teaching as a job and not a career • Oversaw the development of Normal Schools • Heavy focus on pedagogy • Subjects matter only included that taught in Common Schools (criticism still exists) • First one opened in MA in 1839 • Must be exemplars • Pressure on teacher behavior • Incursion into private life (continues today) • His writings and policies led to far greater number of females in profession • Women’s temperaments more appropriate for teaching school-age children • Women were far less expensive for communities and Mann believed they were far more effective with children

12. Questions • A few questions for your small groups: • Mann advocated for female teachers in the classroom. Today, 24% of all K-12 teachers are male and just 9% of elementary teachers are male. Do you believe females have certain traits that make them more effective teachers and are, therefore, more likely to enter the profession? • What do you think accounts for the modern lack of male representation in the classroom?

13. Questions: • Mann pushed for values, religion, and “love” in the classroom. In your opinion, do these have a place in public funded schools?