Schools and Common Schools

During class we formed groups and discussed the readings which was interesting because we got to hear other people’s opinions and also got a chance to learn more about each other. As I was reading two sentences that stood out to me was “Wealthy children could stay in school long the poorest couldn’t afford at all” (27) and “Women teacher gave children on the remote frontier an introduction to literature, standards of behavior, and national ideas” (55). Both sentences are still relevant today because plenty of students do not go to college or end up dropping out due to the fact that they can’t afford it. Although now some people get help from financial aid it is helping people who couldn’t afford receive an education. The 2^nd sentence also relates to today’s day is because majority of today’s teachers are women. It is great to see that there are currently plenty of guy teachers in this field that have a passion to educate children. An interesting topic that was also discussed in class is how some people just become a teacher because its easier for them and they have no passion. Some teachers that have no passion for it affects several kids in the long run because they do no end up learning anything. I graduated from North Bergen High School and my friends and I had a conversation a while ago how it did not prepare us for college. It was all politics. Teachers there were only hired if they had connections to the board of education.Every teacher in the school district has to vote for the same mayor and etc. I graduated from a high school where having proper uniform and dress code was more important than an education. Some teachers wouldn’t even teach which effected hundreds of students who were not and are not going to be prepared for college. Teachers who have a passion for teaching are often patient, open doors, and give opportunities for a better life.

            Public schools started in the mid-nineteenth century and were funded by local property tax and were open to only white children. Back then they preferred boys over girls. The book stated, “These arrangements meant that family wealth, race, and gender had a strong impact on how much formal education and child receives”. In 1809 free school society in New York built their first public school opened to all boys and girls, rich or poor, and gave 500 students free education. This helped the lower class students receive an education equal as the upper class students. Horace Mann recommended plenty of things so children would have the proper education such as blackboards, textbooks, desks. As time went on more and more public schools opened. We have come a long way dealing with economy and equality, but we still have a long way to go.