The Importance Of Education In The 19th Century

Until the 1840s, education was a privilege, available only to those who were wealthy. Prominent reformers such as Horace Mann and Henry Barnard challenged this ideal and took the educational issues to the public. As a result of their hard work, free elementary education was available for all American children by the end of the century and by 1918, all children were required to attend elementary school (Thattai, D. 2001). The main purpose of the public schools during this era, however, are much different than today’s purposes. During the nineteenth century, the schools’ only goals were to create good citizens, unite society, prevent crime and decrease poverty (Thattai, D. 2001).
In today’s modern system, the goal is to create young adults that …show more content…
By adjusting the way the students are taught, they are able to understand the topic more deeply and engage in their studies. Furthermore, McComb (2014) highlights the environment the students are taught in, “The structure of a typical school day -- 45-minute bell schedules, teachers working in silos away from each other, and the difficulty of orchestrating off-campus projects and internships in the community -- would need to change to accommodate deeper learning 's interdisciplinary nature”. When classes are longer but divided over a period of time, students are given the opportunity to engage in the topics and fully comprehend their …show more content…
Almost all professions require a certificate to indicate the completion of necessary classes. However, with other countries now more technologically advanced, the competition to demonstrate one’s academic capabilities has increased. Not only so, but the twenty first century demands individuals with nimble minds capable of creative, innovative thinking, and who have the perseverance to take on -- and learn from -- challenges ( Sean McComb, 2014). Science, Math and English courses are not enough to prepare young adults for