I have recently started reading a new book titled, "School, The story of American Public Education." It is sectioned out into four areas of the building of education. The first section that I just finished talked about the years 1770-1900. This was an era where the school system was still being developed in the United States. It was known as the starting era of the "Common School". In the pre-revolution era there were not many schools available to attend. If there was a school in a town or community, it was usually payed for and supported by the families that could afford to pay to send their children to school. Often, the girls were sent to "dame schools" to learn their letters and discipline.  Most teaching came from the Bible. If you were a boy and came from a privledged family, you might have been sent to a grammar school where you learned mathematics, Latin, and philosophy. If you were wealthy enough, you might have even made it to college or university. At this time, most Americans had received enough education to be able to read something such as the newspaper, and were able to prepare their taxes. Some could still only sign their name.  There were some men such as Thomas Jefferson that felt that America needed an educational system. He felt that it was important for man to be educated in order to make informed decisions in choosing the rulers of the country. He tried to establish a law requiring 3 years of education for all children and the opportunity for advanced education for those  aristocrats that could serve the country such as he had done. Some problems with his plan is that he felt that girls should only be taught how to sew and take care of their families and home. He also totally excluded the slaves in his plan. Jefferson's plan for education did not pass at the time, but other important leaders would later continue with the idea of education for all. Horace Mann was one of those great men. He set out to set up a school system that would be free and available for everyone. He started a new system of education known as the "common schools." It was a system of free schooling for everyone and taught the same common body of knowledge so that every child had an equal opportunity to be successful in life. It was to be funded by the tax dollars that citizens paid each year, and it was to be governed by the state. This is where he gained opposition. Citizens did not want the states to have control and they did not want a heavier tax burden. Mann was also responsible for getting better textbooks, seating, chalkboards and other needed materials as well as better school buildings with adequate lighting, heating, and other necessities.
      Religion also began to play a bigger role in education at this time. There was a huge debate over what religion should be focused on in the schools. Many Catholic parents felt that their children were being taught Protestant methods and beliefs and that their own religion was being persecuted. Bishop John Hughes demanded that public money be made available for the Catholics to start their own schools. This led to a huge public uproar with other religions wanting their share as well. This eventually led to the development of the New York City Board of Education. One of the first such boards that would develop throughout the country. The Catholic  citizens eventually created  their own funding and started private schools of their own. This was the start of the major alternative school system in the US.
     At about the same time, the African American citizens were starting to demand an education for their children as well. They wanted an end to segregation and wanted better schools with better materials.  This led to a court case against the City of Boston by  Benjamin Roberts in behalf of his daughter Sarah. It eventually made it all the way to the  state legislature.  This court case led to the 1855 Massachusetts law abolishing segregation in their schools. This law was later part of the Brown v. Board of Education lawsuit that ended segregation in all public schools.
      There was so much reform going on in this time period in regards to education. Women were now being educated to become teachers in the West as it expanded. There were more schools in the United States than in any other country.  It seemed that the dreams of Thomas Jefferson and Horace Mann were off to a great start. I can't wait to see how the next era of education goes as I continue to read this book. Stay tuned and I will let you know what I discover as I read about the new public school system.