An early goal for public
education in this country was to help people become economically
self-sufficient.
Our leaders felt that public
schools would give all Americans the basic reading and math skills they needed
to succeed in the workplace. As a result, poverty and its consequences would be
reduced.
Early national leaders also saw
the public schools as a “social escalator in a merit-based society.”
They thought it would enable
children of humble birth to pursue financial success and improve their lot in
life.
Later, as the Industrial Age
introduced new occupations, the public schools offered more courses with direct
vocational content.
Early proponents of public
schools also saw an educational role in enhancing individual happiness.
They felt that knowledge would
produce people who could think rationally, apply the wisdom of the ages, and
appreciate culture.
In 1749, Benjamin Franklin
said: “The good education of youth has been esteemed by wise men in all ages as
the surest foundation of the happiness of both private families and of
communities.”
It is very important as we
continue to reform and improve public education that we keep our eye on the big
picture — the lofty goals our founding fathers had in mind.
