Chapter 8 Section 2A REFORMING SOCIETY

Reforming Education

Since Colonial times most children taught at home by their parents Some communities established schools The American Spelling Book- popular school book created by

Noah Webster in 1780s

Reformers see education in America as inadequate Public School Movement- sought to establish a tax supported public

schools

Education needed to give Americans knowledge and intellectual tools needed to make decisions as a citizen

Horace Mann Leads the Public School Movement

Horace Mann- great school reformer He grew up poor with little education, saw 1st hand the need for it He was a leader in Massachusetts Senate Helped create a state board of education

Resigned from senate in 1837 to chair the board Mann’s Impact

Require by law for children to attend school Argued for state oversight School calendars Adequate school funding

Women and their role in Education

Catharine Beecher & Emma Willard-establish schools in Connecticut, Ohio and New York

Elizabeth Blackwell & Ann Preston-help establish medical training for women in the 1850’s

Helping the ill and Imprisoned

Dorothea Dix- 1841- teaches Sunday school in Massachusetts prison Notices people with mental illness and disorders Writes to state legislature that these people shouldn’t be housed with

criminals. Helps build hospitals for those with mental illnesses

Penitentiary Movement Prison Reform where criminals would fell penitence or sorrow for

crimes

The Temperance Movement

Effort to end alcohol abuse and the problems it created Temperance means drinking alcohol in moderation

The American Temperance Society- held meetings to encourage people from drinking alcohol

Only real success of the movement is when reformers won changes in the law

Neal Dow- famous for speeches on alcohol abuse Become mayor of Portland Maine Creates “Maine Law”- which prohibited the sale of alcohol in Maine