Horace Mann Vs Thomas Jefferson Essay

Horace Mann and Thomas Jefferson were both influential people in the making of today’s American education system. Both Horace Mann and Thomas Jefferson based their ideas of public education on the Prussian education system. This was the first public education system in the world and was used to develop America’s own system. Mann’s ideas were heavily influenced by the Prussian school model. While Jefferson’s ideas were infused with his own beliefs and the economic state of the country. Both men had similar view on education and only minor details differ their views. Mann and Jefferson devoted their lives to education and set high values for it. They both wanted to provide their people with free education, for at least 3 years, and crush the stereotype that only the wealthy can be educated. They wanted to make the world a place where your education dictated the jobs you received instead your family’s wealth. They felt that education is man’s right as a human. Equal opportunity for ever man was the goal for both Mann and Jefferson. This would make every person skilled in their trade or occupation which would in turn benefit the economy. They demonstrated that education was the to the key to a strong and powerful country. Even though they both shared many similarities, Mann’s ideas can be viewed as more drastic and unhuman. Mann beliefs are more based the ideas of the Prussian …show more content…
Horace Mann or Thomas Jefferson? I believe that neither of them were fully correct in their views. I believe that if Jefferson’s ideas included truly all people no matter what race or gender than Jefferson’s views would be more correct. Even with the racism both of their ideas caused the foundation of the educational system that we have today. The affects of not including both blacks and women in their views back then has still had a large impact in America. Mann and Jefferson’s ideals still have a large impact on American schools and society