Advancing the Education System in America

Advancing the Education System in America

        The time period between the years 1825-1850 were crucial to the development of the modern education system that we all come to love (or hate) today.  Originally, public education met opposition by the wealthier classes because they wanted to maintain their positions of power at the head of society.  In the South, wealthy plantation owners were against paying taxes for public education especially since they sent their children to private educational institutions.  All of this opposition finally gave way, however, as people witnessed Jackson and later William H. Harrison take presidential office due to support from the uneducated common man who was now willing to put his vote to use.  The wealthy classes now agreed to pay taxes for public education because they realized that an educated man would be less likely to be a political threat than an uneducated man swayed by rhetoric and propaganda.  

        Public schools finally began popping up during the years of 1825-1850, but these schools were often of poor quality and in need of reform.  Luckily, Horace Mann, called the "Father of the Education System," became a champion of educational reform, and he spread the word for the need of more and better schools.  More specifically, he argued for longer school terms, higher pay for teachers, and an expanded subject material.  

        In addition to Horace Mann, Daniel Webster was another important figure in American History for his contribution to the English language:  namely a large dictionary which is still in use today and bears his name.  The Webster dictionary was very important at the time because it solidified the American language.  Before, there was nothing to suggest the spelling of words, so many people would spell the same word in different ways based on how the word sounded and how they thought it was spelled.  The dictionary, therefore, allowed for all Americans to be taught the same spellings and definitions of words, thus making people more literate.  

        Like most things in America, the advancement of education was brought on by political pressures, and it was helped along by a few key men.  And even though we may at times dislike the pressures that the education system brings, we can still appreciate the contributions of Horace Mann and Daniel Webster which provided the foundations of the education system in America--a system which has led to progress in all areas in life.  

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American Pageant Chapter 16