Horace Mann
American education reformer and politician
1796 CE to 1859 CE
Horace Mann (May 4, 1796 – August 2, 1859) is an American education reformer.
As a politician he serves in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1827 to 1833.
He serves in the Massachusetts Senate from 1834 to 1837.
In 1848, after serving as Secretary of the Massachusetts State Board of Education since its creation, he is elected to the US House of Representatives.
Mann is a brother-in-law to author Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Arguing that universal public education is the best way to turn the nation's unruly children into disciplined, judicious republican citizens, Mann wins widespread approval from modernizers, especially in his Whig Party, for building public schools.
Most states adopts one version or another of the system he establishes in Massachusetts, especially the program for "normal schools" to train professional teachers.
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American educators are fascinated by German educational trends.
John Griscom had given a favorable report of Prussian education in 1818.
English translations were made of French philosopher Victor Cousin's work, "Report on the State of Public Education in Prussia."
Calvin E. Stowe, Henry Barnard, Horace Mann, George Bancroft, and Joseph Cogswell all have a vigorous interest in German education.
Beginning about 1822, Prussia has received a steady flow of Americans who bring back the Prussian education system to the United States.
Mann travels to Germany in 1843 to investigate how the educational process works.
Upon his return to the United States, he lobbies heavily to have the "Prussian model" adopted.
Mann convinces his fellow modernizers, especially those in the Whig Party, to legislate tax-supported elementary public education in their states.
Indeed, most northern states adopt one version or another of the system he establishes in Massachusetts, especially the program for "normal schools" to train professional teachers.
Mann is instrumental in the decision to adopt the Prussian education system in Massachusetts in 1852.
New York state soon sets up the same method in twelve different schools on a trial basis.
On October 5, 1850, the General Convention of the Christian Church passed a resolution stating "that our responsibility to the community, and the advancement of our interests as a denomination, demand of us the establishing of a College."
The delegates further pledged "the sum of one hundred thousand dollars as the standard by which to measure our zeal and our effort in raising the means for establishing the contemplated College."
The Committee on the Plan for a College was formed to undertake the founding of a college, and make decisions regarding the name of the school, the endowment, fundraising, faculty, and administration.
Most notably, the committee decided that the college "shall afford equal privileges to students of both sexes."
The Christian Connection sect wanted the new college to be sectarian, but the planning committee decided otherwise.
Despite its enthusiasm, the Christian Connection's fundraising efforts proved insufficient.
The money raised before the school opened failed to cover even the cost of the three original buildings, much less create an endowment.
The Unitarian Church contributed an equal amount of funds and nearly as many students to the new school, causing denominational strife early on.