Education for Democracy

"The free common school system is the most American thing about America." -Adlai Stevenson

Before the time of Horace Mann there was no real system of public education. Our country could not go on without finding a way to educate the citizens of America. Great Americans, like Horace Mann and Thomas Jefferson, knew that in order to maintain a democracy we would have to have well educated citizens. Mann once said that schools had the ability to be great equalizers. Mann made huge contributions to public education in America. He believed every child should have equal access to education and materials. He also wanted conformity in schools. He wanted all schools to have the same things.

As time went on the focus of schools changed. As more and more immigrants came in our population was becoming more diverse. Our schools leaders thought that it was now important to Americanize our students. They now believed that the focus of schools was to assimilate these immigrant children into American society. Schools were where these children learned the customs, practices, and ideals of American life.

Between schools being seen as a way to educate youths for a democracy and for assimilations, they really are the most American thing about America. They are the places children learned about democracy and how to be an American. You can’t get more American than that.