Noah Webster (1758-1843) was an American lexicographer, political writer, author, educator, textbook pioneer and spelling reformer best known for his Blue-backed spelling book and his American Dictionary of the English Language (Britannica). He is now considered one of the Founding Fathers of the nation as remembered as the "Father of American Scholarship and Education” (Wikipedia) and the “schoolmaster of the republic” (Class notes, American Education). Through his linguistic labors, American English was provided with unique dignity and life of its own (Britannica). Webster's name has become synonymous with "dictionary" in the United States, due to the modern Merriam-Webster dictionary that was first published in 1828 as An American Dictionary …show more content…
Webster’s early experiences attending a small, run-down one room primary school would later inspire Webster to work to improve the educational system for future generations (Wikipedia). Webster entered Yale University during the time of The American Revolution, and graduated in 1778 (Britannica). He was by nature an outspoken revolutionary and sought American cultural independence from Britain (Wikipedia) and longed for America to have its own government and also its own language (Class notes, American Education). Webster became increasingly dissatisfied with school texts that did not highlight the American culture and he therefore began a lifelong work that contributed to a distinctively American education (Britannica). Webster once said that "every child in America should be acquainted with his own country. He should read books that furnish him with ideas that will be useful to him in life and practice and as soon as he opens his lips, he should rehearse the history of his own country" (Webster’s online dictionary, quotes). Webster wrote spelling and reading books that emphasized American identity and achievement (Class notes, American Education) the first of which was …show more content…
Webster's speller became a secular successor to “The New England Primer” which was very biblically orientated, although it should be noted that Webster did quote much Scripture in his definitions and certainly believed that education was "useless without the Bible" (Wikipedia). Webster believed that "The moral principles and precepts contained in the Scripture ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws" (Webster’s online dictionary, quotes). Jean Jacques Rousseau's ideas on pedagogy influenced Webster in adjusting his Speller to the stages of a child's development (Wikipedia). Webster held that these distinctive stages of learning moved from the simple to the more complex and he organized his speller accordingly, beginning with letters, sounds, syllables, simple words, more complex words and finally sentences (Wikipedia). In addition to the speller, he also wrote a grammar book (1784) of which he said “grammar is formed on language and not language on grammar” and a reading book (1785) which sought to promote democratic ideals and good moral conduct (Britannica). These 3 works comprised his “Grammatical
What is his opinion of the American Founders? What characteristics does he praise about them? What is their
--Noah webster also known as the "School Master of America", published the blue back speller to teach students about the U.S becoming America's textbook. Thomas Jefferson believed the survival of the democracy depended on the education of U.S citizens, no education for slaves, only three years for women, and only focused on finding smart white men. His ideas were considered radical. His bill for the education was defeated every time and he created the University of Virginia. His biggest belief was that public education was essential to a democracy. Horace Mann 1830-1840s, in Massuchusetts state senate, first secretary of education, and visited over 1000 schools reporting on their conditions resulting in him wanting to change public schools. He said governments have to make the changes. Through lectures and conventions he created the common schools which included everyone and was supported through taxes. He standardized al...
In his essay, “History for Dollars,” David Brooks argues the importance of the study of the humanities to improve your reading ability and i agree because the humanities focus on reading and it helps improve your reading skills because you’re gaining more knowledge of reading. He talks about the enormous power of being that one person in the office who can write a strong and concise memo. He stresses the idea of one who has the ability to read for understanding, write, and paraphrase issues with efficacy helps you in life succeed in
His ideal educational system is based on free and creative thought. He proposes that we achieve this through a variety of methods. First and foremost, he emphasizes the importance of reading as an enlightening, fun, educational activity rather than a chore. He cites Britain, France, Germany and Spain as countries whose students make much more progress then their American peers after 7th grade (let’s not forget that communist Cuba who most Americans despise has the highest literacy rate in the world). He believes reading nurtures the thought process and I agree.
Thomas Jefferson was a man who believed that all American citizens need to be educated so that they may exercise their rights. He saw public education as essential to a democracy. One proposal he made for public education would guarantee that all children could attend public schools for three years. However, much like other early school reforms, this proposal received much rejection and was never brought into being. Despite this rejection, Jefferson still believed that America needed public education. Eventually, he opened the University of Virginia. Even though his bills and proposals to benefit public education never saw the light of day, he still made many contributions to public education by providing the foundation on how a democracy should handle educating its
John Winthrop came to America to avoid the depression in England and escape oppression from Charles I, a king who was impatient with Puritan reformers. Though Winthrop wasn’t a separatist, he embraced Puritan ideas and “wished to reform the national church from within, purging it of everything that harked back to Rome, especially the hierarchy of the clergy and all the traditional Catholic rituals”. He left England for his own self-interests rather than embarking to create a colony independent of England; he was not in the presence of the other founding fathers when they signed the declaration, nor he did not fight in the revolution.
So, they eventually moved West towards the canal to grow other crops. Due to its convenience and significant importance, new towns and cities formed along the edges of the canal which transformed the “Trans-Allegheny” west into a highly populated area. This migration to the west brought new forms of culture, increasing America’s cultural nationalism. The increase in cultural nationalism brought new forms of literature and new people to teach it. In 1820, Noah Webster, an American writer, wrote the Webster's New American Dictionary. This dictionary consisted of every word known at that time and ultimately increased the knowledge of other writers such as Washington Irving. Washington Irving wrote the famous stories Rip Van Winkle; The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and The Sketch Book. Also, the cultural nationalism brought upon the idea of poetry in America. The first American poet to gain recognition was William Cullen Bryant, who wrote Thanatopsis in 1817. To conclude, the American nationalism brought upon new forms of cultural and economic success and ultimately strengthened the American
He made many changes to the Declaration before he was happy with what he wrote. He was known throughout the colonies as a great writer on political issues.
John Adams, born in Braintree, Massachusetts on October 30, 1735, was the second president of the United States and served as the first vice president of the United States. Adams began his education in a common school in Braintree. He secured a scholarship to Harvard and graduated at the age of 20. He was one of the Founding Fathers of America, and was a political leader, diplomat, and leading promoter of America independence from Britain. He also promoted republicanism and a strong central government. He was a lifelong adversary of slavery; he never owned a slave. John Adams was more remarkable as a political philosopher than as a politician. “People and nations are forged in the fires of adversity,” he said, thinking of his own as well as the American experience (The White House).
From the Glass Castle, Jeannette’s mother read picture books with Jeannette and her siblings in their early childhood. This activity established good reading habits for Jeannette and her siblings. When she was older, after dinner, her father read the dictionary with the kids, looked up the words they did not know, and discussed the definitions (Walls 56). Because of the reading habits her parents gave her, every time Jeannette did not understand a word, she looked up the word in the dictionary. The routine of reading dictionary after dinner and the habit of looking up an unknown word in the dictionary helped Jeannette build up her vocabulary. With abundant vocabulary and excellent reading skills, Jeannette did not have problem with her college admission test. Studies show that having good reading habits not only increase the volume of children’s vocabulary but also help them perform well on their exams. In the Educational Testing Service (ETS) Policy Information Center 's report, The Family: America 's Smallest School, the author points out the importance of reading to children:
He even wrote and published a six-part series of essays called The Continentalist, where he expressed many of his opinions on the Articles of Confederation. Most of which were calling for a change in the system for the benefit of the country. He also spent a short period of time as a lawyer. During his law career, he defended many British loyalists; one case in particular is very significant. Rutgers v. Waddington was a case that involved British loyalists on which Alexander Hamilton was a lawyer that became an important case for the American justice system because it led to the development of the concept of the judicial review system.
JOHN ADAMS – A SHORT BIOGRAPHY HISTORY 1301 – U.S. HISTORY TO 1877 WHEN SEARCHING FOR THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON DURING THE EARLY U.S. HISTORY, GEORGE WASHINGTON COMES TO THE FOREFRONT. INCIDENTLY, DUE TO THE GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF THE RESEARCH, THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION ON PEOPLE OR EVENTS ON HISTORY BEFORE 1877. TO MY SURPRISE, INFORMATION WAS LOCATED ON JOHN AND ABIGAIL ADAMS. JOHN AND ABIGAIL ADAMS SUPPOSIVELY HAD A WONDERFUL LIFE AND MARRIAGE TOGETHER. JOHN ADAMS SOMETIMES SEEMED TO BE A CONTRADICTING, RUDE AND OUTSPOKEN MAN, BUT AT OTHER TIMES PLAYFUL AND TENDER. ABIGAIL’S INTELLIGENT, CARING AND WITTY CHARACTER MADE UP FOR JOHN’S MANNERS, THEIR MARRIAGE SIGNIFIES THE POSITION IN WHICH A WOMAN WAS INVOLVED IN THE EVOLVING OF A GREAT MAN, FOR HER IMPORTANT FAMILY CONNECTIONS PROBABLY BENEFITED HIS CAREER. JOHN ADAMS WAS BORN IN 1735, BRAINTREE, MASSACHUSETTS TO JOHN ADAMS AND SUSANNA BOYLSTON. JOHN ADAMS WAS THE ELDEST OF THREE SONS. MR ADAMS WAS A DEACON AND FARMER (WHICH MEANT THE FAMILY WAS NOT WEALTHY). MRS ADAMS WAS BORN FROM ONE OF THE FIRST FAMILIES OF MASSACHUSETTS (THE BOYLSTON’S OWNED A LOT OF PROPERTY). JOHN ADAMS GRADUATED FROM HARVARD IN 1755. UPON GRADUATING, HE WAS OFFERED A JOB TO TEACH IN WORCHESTER. LIKE MOST BACHELORS, JOHN HAD NO INTEREST IN CHILDREN OR THE SLIGHTEST UNDERSTANDING OF THEM. BUT LIKE ANYONE HE ADAPTED TO THE SITUATION, PROBABLY BECAUSE HE HAD TWO YOUNGER BROTHERS. JOHN MARRIED ABIGAIL SMITH IN 1764. ABIGAIL WAS THE SECOND OF FOUR CHILDREN, BORN IN 1744.
Noah Webster, familiar to most Americans as the writer of the first American dictionary, worked as a schoolteacher in the late eighteenth century. As he taught, he came to realize that there were some major problems with the way English was taught in the American schools. The United States of America had recently declared its independence from England, and was struggling to form its own identity. The schools were still using textbooks from England, and these books varied in consistency when it came to spelling, pronunciation and grammar (Short Summary Website). As a teacher, and as a patriot, Webster felt a need for an American textbook. He wanted consistency and he wanted it to reflect that there was an American dialect of English that was distinctive from that of England (Bett Website). He had also noted that the social classes of England were often distinguished by differences in dialect, and he wished the United States to have a single, distinctive dialect that would rise above differences in class (Bett Website).
Two of the most important authors of early America are Thomas Paine and St. John de Crevecoeur. De Crevecoeur in his work “Letters from an American Farmer” set forth in simplest terms just exactly what it was that people who were immigrating to the American colonies could expect. His words and thoughts still define how many think of America today even if they don’t know that the words are his. Thomas Paine was a firebrand that wrote perhaps the most important of the pre-Revolution tracts in “Common Sense”. His analytical style in addressing the problems that were obviously there between the thirteen colonies and
A large part of an English teacher’s job deals with helping students find their own voices amidst the many teachings of their parents and peers. A student’s voice can be their values, their interests, and their perspectives of the world in which they live. Their voice can be their critical questioning of the many situations they face, whether in a text, the school cafeteria, or a park after school. It is the job of an English teacher to aid in finding this voice through their writing. It is by putting words and thoughts down on paper that a student can sometimes feel comfortable enough to take risks and find their true voices. Although traditional grammar instruction has long been thought to improve this skill, this is no longer the case. Instead, by providing a classroom environment in which students are immersed in classic literature from many genres including poetry, short stories, and novels, students will learn how to harness grammar for their own purposes of finding their voice in their writing.