Horace Mann's contributions to the public school system

Horace Mann's contributions to the public school system

Introduction

Jurisconsulte and statesman, Horace Mann is best known as a promoter of popular education in the United States of America. His influence in this regard has been considerable, and its reputation has spread in all countries where primary education is appreciated. He was born May 4, 1796 in Franklin (Massachusetts), a father who farmed with his hands a thin heritage and a mother who combined a great sense a moral distinction. He took them, with a high regard for knowledge and books, an ardent desire to be helpful. Deprived of his father at the age of thirteen, he often had to plow his hands to support his mother and sister. Their poverty was so great that, to buy his schoolbooks when he was free to go to school, he had to impose extra duties. He worked all day and could not take on his sleep time to read the few books on theology and history that made up the library of her small town.

Discussion

Suddenly, at the height of his talent and his fortune, when his countrymen came with instructions to revise and consolidate the laws of Massachusetts, he resigned the high office he held, closed his office a lawyer, retired from all research companies and philanthropy to which he belonged, to devote himself to the task of developing public education in his country. He had just accepted as Secretary of Education Office of the State of Massachusetts, recently created and still poorly defined. 

He remained twelve years these functions, from 1837 to 1848. They consisted mostly to collect and disseminate information which might interest the primary instruction: reports of teachers and school committees, on the one hand, technical writings on educational issues, on the other. Publicize and the teachers of youth the best teaching methods; report deficiencies and ...