History of Education in America Before 1877 with an Emphasis On Horace Mann

Introduction

In the United States we continuously talk about the notion of the American dream, one of the most significant facts in achieving this dream is a solid education. For this reason, the U.S. has a public education system prepared to give everyone the equal opportunity at the American dream. Unfortunately, the education system is primarily supported by the state education fund, and several states these funds are distributed based on property taxes paid by the district.

Because of the distribution of state education funds based on property taxes, middle and lower class citizens are located at an inequitable advantage in the public education system. In 1840, Horace Mann and other education reformers productively managed to get U.S. government to approve a number of policies that maintain the formation of a public education system sponsored by the government. They believed that, without a decent education that people would not be capable to escape from poverty to prosperity. "Education then, clear of all other devices of human source, is the great equalizer of the conditions of men, balance-wheel of the social machinery". (Mann, p55)

Discussion and Analysis

Horace Mann and his colleagues had bright ideas, but, in actuality it look as if we have failed to implement his ideas as he imagined. Seven of the largest states in the United States distributing state education funds based on the state property tax revenues, states say this because it builds the education system more reasonable, but it causes areas to pay more in taxes property for more money in education. This guide to the richer areas has better funded schools, and this guide to their children receives a better education than children living in less prosperous region.

The education system in the States who distribute education funding based on property tax revenue heavily favors the children of the wealthier citizens who live in wealthier areas. Although, it appears that low-income citizens end up paying a higher percentage of their income in property taxes. So, lower income families end up giving up more than higher income families, but end up receiving less. That is one of the reasons why education funds should not be distributed based on property taxes, it is unfair how in our society homeowners with no, or few kids pay as much as people with many kids and have no choice but to abide by the rules and regulations (Mann, p64).

The bigger burden goes on to the senior citizens who have not had children in schools for years and are living on fixed low income due to retirement and still have to keep up with the taxes for schools around them. U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York had said, “Schools are getting worse because no one can afford more property tax increases…because of the dependence on property taxes, towns experience bitter battles over school funding…those without kids in school, now a majority in many communities, vote against raising school taxes and ...