Horace Mann Research Paper

Education

In an excerpt from the Report of the Massachusetts Board of Education, Horace Mann makes the assertion “Education, then beyond all other devices of human origin, is the great equalizer of the conditions of men.” From this one could infer that education isn’t just an equalizer for men, but also for society. Yet historically our society has never given equal educational opportunities to all of America’s citizens.

Contrary to Mann’s idea that education is equal to every man, history has shown us that races were treated differently educationally. They were not given as many opportunities as white people. During the civil war African American slaves were not allowed to be taught basic education, in fear of a slave rebellion. As our history continued we have tried to right the wrongs, but somehow education is still unequal. Certain people still don't have the opportunities or resources that they need to succeed. Society has also played a major role in the equality of education, the people who are considered

“minorities” are being told by society that they can’t do it or that they won’t succeed, “Minority students believe that they cannot be accepted in the society of advanced-level classes (165 A Talk to High School Teachers). Although Mann is not talking about advanced classes it is the fact that society is making them feel inferior to others.
In today’s society, education is a major thing, and getting a good education usually means you make better choices.

However education does not always have the positive effect on society that Mann says it does. Education produces people who are smart, but lack creativity and originality. Education wants the given answer, something that rarely happens in society. In our society we don’t give everybody a chance we judge and from that judgment we make an assumption as to how much that person or race can accomplish. People of education do that, even though they have learned of the horrors that the world has gone through, because of judgment and discrimination. Education only teaches, it does not force its pupils to learn. In my history class I have read about wars and mass genocides that are from judgement and discrimination towards one race. We are an educated society, but despite everything history has taught us, we still treat certain races as

inferior.
Education is used to balance out social status, but it will never work. The rich will always have more money that they could use to get a better education and open up more opportunities. The poor have less opportunities in life and education, due to the difference in income. Our society has tried to help them by looking at people's income to see if they can qualify for a reduced payment. Mann’s idea of an equalized society only has the rich and poor, but what about the people who aren’t rich but have money what opportunities do they have? Just last summer I was interested in Upward Bound, but because my mother makes a bit of money on paper I am not given the opportunity.
How can we fix the inequality that we find in school, society, and the government? First, we must teach people the rights each human being has the right to posses no matter of the religion or race. Education is a matter of perspective, what America perceives to be educated,another country or person might perceive something different. Education does play a role in our society, but it can’t be the basis of it.