What Were Schools Like Back Then

WHAT WERE SCHOOLS LIKE BACK THEN?

When Horace Mann was growing up, he went to a school located at Mann’s Corner in Franklin, which was about a mile from his home. Horace Mann’s school was a square wooden building that was typical of schools at that time. They were called ‘district schools,’ and they were the towns’ public schools. Back in those days, each community paid for their own schools with money they collected from taxes. Because the state government did not help pay for any of the schools needs, it was difficult for local governments to pay for the education of their children. The towns that were poor usually had small schools that were oftentimes not in good condition.

The school that Horace Mann attended was described as “small and unpainted, with poor ventilation.” The fireplace only provided enough heat for those lucky enough to be near it, otherwise, “the temperatures were arctic” and sometimes it was so cold that “the ink in the inkwells froze.”

In 1837, Horace Mann became the first Secretary of the Board of Education for the state of Massachusetts. He decided to tour many schools and he saw that many of them were very small, crowded, and in shabby condition. They were in need of repairs. The roofs leaked and the walls were damaged. Windowpanes were broken and some schools had only dirt floors. Most often, there was only one stove or fireplace to heat the room, which made it too hot for the students sitting near it, and too cold for the students who were not.

Horace Mann also discovered that many schools did not have good equipment for their students. Many classrooms did not even have desks. Instead, students were crowded into long hard wooden benches. Some schools had no blackboards, globes, books, or paper.

As Horace Mann toured schools across the state, he spoke publicly at many assemblies about the importance of public education. He believed towns should spend money from taxes to repair and improve school buildings, but he also knew that they needed help from the state government. The speeches he gave to the state legislature were powerful and persuasive. As a result, the state legislature voted to give money to improve school buildings.

In the first year, $2,200,000 was spent on improvement to schools in Massachusetts. Roofs were repaired, walls were mended, and schools were cleaned and cheerfully painted. Horace Mann also had the idea that each year the schools should be inspected to ensure that they remained in very good condition. He wanted all children, rich or poor, to attend beautiful schools. His dream was to provide well cared for schools that communities could be proud of and that children would be happy to attend.

References

Edwards, C. P. (1958). Horace Mann, Sower of Learning. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Fiore, J. D. (1973). Wrentham 1673-1973 A History. Boston: Thomas Todd Co.

Fuller, L. (1965). Horace Mann, On the Crisis in Education. Yellow Springs, Ohio: Antioch

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Kalman, B. (1991). Early Schools: The Early Settler Life Series. New York: Crabtree Publishing.

Pierce, E. G. ( 1972). Horace Mann, Our Nation’s First Educator. Ontario, Canada: Lerner

Publications.

Treichler, J. (1962). Horace Mann, Educating for Democracy. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Brittanica Press.