霍勒斯·曼 Horace Mann huò lè sī · màn

English

Horace Mann (May 4, 1796 – August 2, 1859) was a prominent 19th-century American educational reformer, hailed as the "Father of American Public Education." Born into a poor family, he became a lawyer and politician through self-education.

Mann dedicated his life to educational reform, believing that education was crucial for raising social morality and upholding social justice. Influenced by Enlightenment thought and European educational reform movements, he advocated for a publicly funded, free, and universal public education system for all children. He believed such a system would not only improve the overall quality of citizens but also cultivate civic consciousness and patriotism, thus preserving the nation's democratic institutions.

To realize his educational ideals, Mann actively promoted educational reform in Massachusetts. During his tenure as the chairman of the Massachusetts Board of Education, he accomplished a great deal:

* Establishing normal schools to train qualified teachers. At that time, American teachers generally lacked professional training, and the quality of education varied widely. Mann believed that improving the quality of education required first improving the quality of teachers. Therefore, he founded normal schools to provide systematic professional training for teachers, standardizing their professional conduct and enhancing their professional competence.
* Improving school facilities and updating teaching content. He promoted the construction of more schools, improved the learning environment, and updated the teaching content to better meet the needs of the times.
* Promoting new teaching methods. He advocated for more active teaching methods, fostering students' independent thinking abilities rather than rote memorization.
* Lobbying for government funding to increase educational spending. Recognizing that educational reform required significant financial support, he actively lobbied the government for increased educational funding to provide financial security for the reforms.

Mann's educational reforms achieved remarkable success in Massachusetts and had a profound impact on educational reforms in other states. His thoughts and practices laid a solid foundation for the establishment of the American public education system, making the United States the first country in the world to achieve universal primary education. Although he did not fully realize all of his educational ideals, his contribution to the cause of American education is indelible. His educational philosophy remains relevant today and is worthy of our study and emulation.