Common school
Encyclopedia
A common school was a public school in the United States
or Canada
in the nineteenth century. The term 'common school' was coined by Horace Mann
, and refers to the fact that they were meant to serve individuals of all social classes and religions.
The duration of the school year was often dictated by the agricultural needs of particular communities, with children being off when they would be needed on the family farm.
Common schools were funded by local tax
es, did not charge tuition
, and were open to all children, at least all white children. Typically, with a small amount of state oversight, each district was controlled by an elected local school board; traditionally a county school superintendent or regional director was elected to supervise day-to-day activities of several common school districts.
Since common schools were locally controlled, and the United States was very rural in the nineteenth century, most common schools were small one-room school
s. They typically had a single teacher (usually female) and all the students were taught together, regardless of age. Common school districts were nominally subject to their creator, either a county commission
or a state regulatory agency
.
Rural common schools of the nineteenth century differed from urban "charity" schools of the same period both in terms of organizational structure and funding sources.
(reading, writing, and arithmetic), history
, geography
, and math. Evaluation of students was very varied (from 0-100 grading to no grades at all), but an end-of-the-year recitation
was a common way that parents were informed about what their children were learning.
Although common schools were designed by Mann to be nonsectarian
, there were several fierce battles, most notably in New York
and Philadelphia, where Roman Catholic immigrants and Native Americans objected to the use of the King James Version of the Bible
. Even without Bible readings, most common schools taught children the general Protestant
values (e.g., work ethic
) of nineteenth-century America.
, voters often decided in called elections to join independent or unified school districts.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
or Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in the nineteenth century. The term 'common school' was coined by Horace Mann
Horace Mann
Horace Mann was an American education reformer, and a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1827 to 1833. He served in the Massachusetts Senate from 1834 to 1837. In 1848, after serving as Secretary of the Massachusetts State Board of Education since its creation, he was...
, and refers to the fact that they were meant to serve individuals of all social classes and religions.
Description
Students often went to the common school from ages six to fourteen (predecessor of grades 1-8), although this could vary widely.The duration of the school year was often dictated by the agricultural needs of particular communities, with children being off when they would be needed on the family farm.
Common schools were funded by local tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
es, did not charge tuition
Tuition
Tuition payments, known primarily as tuition in American English and as tuition fees in British English, Canadian English, Australian English, New Zealand English and Indian English, refers to a fee charged for educational instruction during higher education.Tuition payments are charged by...
, and were open to all children, at least all white children. Typically, with a small amount of state oversight, each district was controlled by an elected local school board; traditionally a county school superintendent or regional director was elected to supervise day-to-day activities of several common school districts.
Since common schools were locally controlled, and the United States was very rural in the nineteenth century, most common schools were small one-room school
One-room school
One-room schools were commonplace throughout rural portions of various countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In most rural and small town schools, all of the students met in a single room...
s. They typically had a single teacher (usually female) and all the students were taught together, regardless of age. Common school districts were nominally subject to their creator, either a county commission
Commissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
or a state regulatory agency
Government agency
A government or state agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of agency types...
.
Rural common schools of the nineteenth century differed from urban "charity" schools of the same period both in terms of organizational structure and funding sources.
Curriculum
Common schools typically taught The three RsThe three Rs
The three Rs are the foundations of a basic skills-orientated education program within schools: Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic.The phrase is attributed to a toast given by Sir William Curtis around 1825...
(reading, writing, and arithmetic), history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
, and math. Evaluation of students was very varied (from 0-100 grading to no grades at all), but an end-of-the-year recitation
Recitation
A recitation is a presentation made by a student to demonstrate knowledge of a subject or to provide instruction to others. In some academic institutions the term is used for a presentation by a teaching assistant or instructor, under the guidance of a senior faculty member, that supplements...
was a common way that parents were informed about what their children were learning.
Although common schools were designed by Mann to be nonsectarian
Nonsectarian
Nonsectarian, in its most literal sense, refers to a lack of sectarianism. The term is also more narrowly used to describe secular private educational institutions or other organizations either not affiliated with or not restricted to a particular religious denomination though the organization...
, there were several fierce battles, most notably in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Philadelphia, where Roman Catholic immigrants and Native Americans objected to the use of the King James Version of the Bible
King James Version of the Bible
The Authorized Version, commonly known as the King James Version, King James Bible or KJV, is an English translation of the Christian Bible by the Church of England begun in 1604 and completed in 1611...
. Even without Bible readings, most common schools taught children the general Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
values (e.g., work ethic
Work ethic
Work ethic is a set of values based on hard work and diligence. It is also a belief in the moral benefit of work and its ability to enhance character. An example would be the Protestant work ethic...
) of nineteenth-century America.
Common school era
The common school era is viewed by many education scholars to have ended around 1900. In the early twentieth century, schools generally became more regional (as opposed to local), and control of schools moved away from elected school boards, and towards professional control. Because common schools were not a special-purpose districtSpecial-purpose district
Special-purpose districts or special district governments in the United States are independent governmental units that exist separately from, and with substantial administrative and fiscal independence from, general purpose local governments such as county, municipal, and township governments. As...
, voters often decided in called elections to join independent or unified school districts.