The Common School (Reflection)

Reflecting back on last week's class, the same homework was assigned: read Part I: The Common School and choose three words, phrases, and sentences that portrays what you read and what you identify with. Not one person picked the same word, phrase, or sentence, but understood the context of the chapter!

Although each word, phrase, and sentence were completely different; there was a steady flow for each category in order to create a "bigger picture."

• Words: foundation, school, shape -- literacy, education, schooling -- equalizer, wealthy, textbooks

Having a solid foundation not only prepares and shapes you for school and the outside world, but it also provides knowledge no one can take away from you. One does not just go to school to find a job, but to become wiser and an "educated citizen."

Before the Common School, education was provided to those who could afford it. But what about the rest of those who could not? The Common School provided the non-wealthy and the immigrants opportunities who yearned a brighter future. But in order to improve reading skills and to learn different subjects in education, textbooks had to be provided. Textbooks can be expensive, but there is not ONE textbook that will hold all materials needed to learn from kindergarten to a university level. Textbooks, books in general, are adjusted to fit every ones needs; whether it be by language, topic, or age group.

• Phrases: (1) free common school: the most American thing about America, (2) were required by law to build schools, (3) local control by elected school committee, (4) all citizens have an obligation, (5) freedom struggle, (6) effective education for the 21st century, (7) the educated citizen, (8) the great balance wheel of the social machinery, and (9) "Blue back speller"

The beauty with America, then and now, is that so much help is provided to not only the wealthiest of people, but the poorest. By providing a free education, America was striving for greater change. The interesting part of an "educated citizen" could be interpreted in several ways. Are all citizens educated? Everyone that is 'educated' is an automatic citizen? Yes, education is very important, but education can make you wiser (i.e. voting) or to excel in certain areas others as well as yourself will benefit from (i.e. engineer).

• Sentences: (1) "Jefferson had received the type of education available only to the wealthy of his time." (2) "Immigration swelled... these factors formed the necessary preconditions for the creation of public schools." (3) "It is a free school system, it knows no distinction of rich and poor... it is the equalizer of their conditions of men, the great balance wheel of the social.

A total of nine interesting sentences, but only three really hit home run for me. Beginning with the first sentence, as mentioned before, education was only available to those who could afford it; however, the Common School changed that! Depicted throughout history, immigration is very common in America. Some immigrants will flee from their native home due to violence, but there are others who know America will provide them (and their children) an education not found anywhere else. Throughout history, the creation of public schools were free to the public, not dismissing anyone based off of their income.