Horace Mann presents a very clever point when he states "If one class possesses all the wealth and the education, while the residue of society is ignorant and poor, it matters not by what name the relation between them may be called; the latter, in fact and in truth, will be the servile dependants and subjects of the former. But if education be equably diffused, it will draw property after it, by strongest of all attractions; for such a thing never did happen, and never can happen, as that an intelligent and practical body of men should be permanently poor."(150)Mann is stating that if public education is implemented than the economy will strengthen. Smart people are better at earning money than stupid people. Education is an key component to the U.S. economy. Public education could only benefit the country. Mann's ideas made me think of Booker T. Washington for a moment. Both of them were clearly focus on relating the economy to their topic. The economy immediately grabbed the public's attention to their topic allowing them to spread their ideas. Mann used the economy to bring attention to his public education reform. He had an ingenious plan.
"American Reader, Pages 148-153"
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I am open to politely debate your outright acceptance of Mann's ideas as an "ingenious plan". Why exactly do you believe this? Is public education truly the means by which the masses have the capacity to move upward in the social and economic ranks of society? What about Mann's love of the Prussian system? Can you imagine the implications that has for a political narrative that has produced the very "servile dependants and subjects" for which public schooling was supposed to unchain?
ReplyDeleteI suggest these sources:
http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/view/sanders-horace-mann-part-ii-prussia-comes-to-america
http://www.mackinac.org/2035
http://mises.org/etexts/Enterprisingedu.pdf