Evolution of Public Education in the U.S.: From Unequal Beginnings to Equal Opportunities

1. Public Education By Chloe Bickel, Jon Dery, Josh Kleinman, Rebecca Schneider, and Anita Utkin

2. Description • Before 1850’s no uniform education policies in U.S. • Few kids continued beyond age 10 • In 1830’s Americans demanded tax-supported public schools • The opposition were taxpayers who sent their kids to private schools and German immigrants who feared kids would forget German language and culture

3. Important Leaders… • Horace Mann of Massachusetts: • Given seat in Massachusetts House of Representatives • First secretary of Massachusetts Board of Education • Served 11 years • Doubled the money state spent on schools • Instituted curriculum reforms • Established teacher training programs • Started journal called Common School Journal in 1838 for teachers and lectured on education • Had Six Principles of Education

4. Noah Webster • Tried to standardize American Speech: in different parts of the country, words were pronounced, spelled, and used differently • 1806: published A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language, the first American dictionary • 1828: expanded and published An American Dictionary of The English Language • Created a “spelling reform,” changing the spelling of many words to their phonetic spelling (ex: colour to color, centre to center)

5. Accomplishments • Publicly supported “common schools” and “moral education” • 1837: 42% of elementary-school-age kids attending PA public schools • By 1850’s, every state had public school system • Created better education system and better voters

6. Connection to Jacksonian Democracy • Provided public education to the common people rather than private schools for the wealthy • Creates a better educated public • Educated public = educated voters • Every state has equal opportunity