The Enlightenment sparked a revolution in education, leading to the rise of public schooling. Compulsory education laws and the Common School Movement made learning accessible to all, not just the wealthy. This shift aimed to create an educated citizenry for a stable democracy.

The Prussian education system influenced American schools, emphasizing standardization and secularization. State-funded schools, teacher training, and education reforms shaped the modern public education system we know today. These changes aimed to improve quality and equity in learning.

Compulsory Education Movement

Emergence of Compulsory Schooling

• Compulsory education laws required children to attend school for a specified period of time, typically until a certain age (16 in most states)
• Horace Mann, a prominent education reformer, advocated for compulsory education in the United States
  • Believed education was necessary for a stable democracy and social mobility
  • Served as Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education from 1837 to 1848
• Common School Movement aimed to establish tax-supported, locally controlled schools open to all children regardless of social class or religion
  • Emphasized moral education, basic literacy, and citizenship skills
  • Gained momentum in the 1830s and 1840s, particularly in New England states

Shift Towards Universal Education

• Universal education became a goal to provide schooling for all children, not just the privileged or wealthy
• Compulsory education laws and the Common School Movement helped make education more accessible and widespread
  • By 1918, all states had passed compulsory education laws
• Challenges to universal education included resistance from some religious groups, child labor practices, and limited funding

Influences on Public Education

Impact of the Prussian Education System

• Prussian education system, developed in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, served as a model for many Western countries
  • Emphasized state-supported, secular, and standardized schooling
  • Focused on discipline, obedience, and nationalism
• Horace Mann and other American educators were influenced by the Prussian system's structure and efficiency
  • Adopted elements such as age-graded classrooms, standardized curriculum, and teacher training

Secularization and Standardization

• Secularization of education aimed to separate schooling from religious influence and control
  • Public schools were established as non-sectarian institutions open to all children regardless of religious background
  • Controversial issue, as some religious groups opposed the removal of religious instruction from schools
• Standardization of education sought to create a more uniform and consistent school experience across regions
  • Included standardized curriculum, textbooks, and teacher qualifications
  • Aimed to ensure all students received a similar quality of education and were held to the same academic standards

Development of Public School Systems

Emergence of State-Funded Schools

• State-funded schools, supported by tax dollars, began to replace or supplement locally funded schools
  • Allowed for more consistent funding and resources across communities
  • Enabled the expansion of public education to more children, particularly in rural or less affluent areas
• Challenges included resistance to taxation for education, debates over local control versus state oversight, and disparities in funding between districts

Teacher Training and Normal Schools

• Normal schools were established to train teachers for the growing public school system
  • Provided specialized instruction in pedagogy, subject matter, and classroom management
  • First state-supported normal school opened in Lexington, Massachusetts in 1839
• Teacher training helped professionalize the field of education and improve the quality of instruction in public schools
  • By 1900, there were over 300 normal schools in the United States

Education Reform Efforts

• Education reformers sought to improve various aspects of the public school system in the 19th and early 20th centuries
  • Horace Mann advocated for better school facilities, higher teacher salaries, and a broader curriculum
  • John Dewey promoted progressive education, emphasizing hands-on learning, critical thinking, and social reform
  • Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois worked to expand educational opportunities for African Americans
• Reform efforts aimed to make education more effective, equitable, and responsive to the needs of a changing society
  • Influenced by social, political, and economic factors such as industrialization, immigration, and the struggle for civil rights