The Common School Movement: The Rise of State Support for Public Education (1820 - 1865)

3.1 Explain how the common school movement influenced education in our country today.

• During the common school movement...
• States and local governments directly taxed citizens to support public schools.
• States created state education departments and appointed state superintendents of instruction.
• Educators organized schools by grade level and standardized the curriculum.
• Separating schools into grade levels resulted in more age appropriate instruction and allowed material to be taught to older students in greater depth.
• States improved teacher preparation.
• Normal Schools: 2-year institutions developed to prepare prospective elementary teachers. These later became many of our current state colleges and universities.
• All of these changes are still seen in schools today.

3.2 How was the common school movement linked to the growing number of immigrants coming to the United States?

• The country needed an informed population that could participate in politics and contribute to the economy. Many of the incoming immigrants didn't speak English and weren't accustomed to the American way of life. America turned to its schools to push the assimilation of the growing number of immigrants.

3.3 Who was Horace Mann, and what was his contribution to education in the United States?

• Horace Mann was a lawyer turned educator. He served as the secretary of the Massachusetts State Board of Education from 1837-1848 and advocated for public education. His idea that a tax supported, public education should be a right for all citizens is his most important legacy. He set the stage for state compulsory school attendance laws, and in Massachusetts, he doubled state funds for education and increased teacher's salaries by 50%.