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Horace Mann
Educational reformer that promoted and refined the idea of universal education inspired by Thomas Jefferson. He argued for common schools- a free school system funded by tax dollars of all citizens. His work did a lot to establish and standardize school, that it might serve both practical and idealistic goals. He established common (elementary) schools. Several normal schools were also founded as a result of his efforts- informing teachers on better pedagogy. -
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Catherine Esther Beecher
Promoted women’s equal access to education, arguing their role as teacher and mother; teaching to her was a woman’s moral calling. By her work teaching was feminized, professionalized and respected as she promoted teacher education by establishing colleges/institutions, such as the American Women’s Educational Association founded in 1852 which aimed to send teachers west to build schools on the developing western frontier. -
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John Hughes
Served as Bishop and later (1842) Archbishop of New York. He led debates and pushed for curriculum departure from influence of protestant religion, and anti-Irish and catholic tone. Hughes established the first catholic school around 1850’s; he created one of the major alternative schoolings in the U.S. -
Roberts v CIty of Boston
Benjamin Roberts took action on behalf of daughter and reached out to state legislators. The case sought to end racial discrimination in Boston public schools. Although the court ruled against Roberts, the case proved significant for future legal actions on the issue of segregation. It was cited in the case of Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and again in Brown v. Board of Education (1954). Much of the racial and ethnic diversity within our public schools today. -
Kalamazoo, Michigan Case
A notable court case that involved a court ruling that taxes could be used to support secondary schools. This was a step toward secondary schools as the ‘free and natural extension of elementary education” that we are familiar with today.
