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Summary and Objective
Students will understand that Early American education was designed primarily to fit the child into the already-accepted society. In effect, this would have encouraged conformity over innovation and obedience rather than rebellion.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
Education of children in the late 18th and early 19th centuries is presented, with information about Horace Mann and other reformers, as well as the laws on compulsory school attendance in Massachusetts in the 1830's. This general information is found in most US History textbooks and will be used as an introduction and as background.
Step 2.
For comparison purposes, students will be asked to write several paragraphs about the purpose of their own educational experiences. It is expected that there will be a strong personal agenda as the reason for their attendance at school.
Step 3.
Using "The New American Arithmetic, Part First for Young Readers" (p.20) and "New and True Stories For Children, With 100 Pictures" (p. 73) as primary sources, one set of students will form a group to discuss how moral values were incorporated into the "3R's" of education.
Step 4.
Using "Sophia Smith's Sampler" as a source, another group of students will decide on several lessons that could be learned by girls sewing this kind of embroidery. And "The New England Primer"(pp. 2,11-14,33) will be introduced to show how similar lessons would be taught to boys as well as girls.
Step 5.
Using "Reward of Merit to Amos Hamilton" as an example of how proper behavior would be reinforced, a third group of students will discuss how similar achievement would be recognized today.
Step 6.
With "Rudiments of Geography" (pp. 51,120,148,151)and "Smith's Geography on the Productive System; For Schools, Academies, and Families" (pp. 6-7,108-109,148, 184-185) as primary sources, a fourth group will be asked to reflect on how the education of the time reinforced national cultural values by teaching about other cultures.
Step 7.
After bringing all four groups together, students will share their information and insights and comment on the difference between the purpose of education in the early US and that of today. What has been gained? What was lost?
Step 8.
A paper will be assigned asking the following questions? "If you could transplant one idea of early American education to the present day, what would it be?" If you could go back in time, what one change in early American education would you make?"
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