Daniel Guiller

Professor Woo

Going Public: History of American Public Education

23 September 2022

  

    The section “the common school” was an interesting read because it really detailed how public education was in its infancy and went in-depth about issues that it endured and persevered through. Schools went from being charity institutions that only had 12 in-session weeks a year to becoming modernized institutions that are government funded and can educate hundreds if not thousands of students yearly. The public school has evolved quite a bit. After reading this chapter what I noticed is that a lot of issues that plagued the public school system back then still exist today. It was outlined in the first chapter that from its infancy the public school system was poorly designed, and did not benefit many who didn’t fall under the ideal requirements. Despite the issues, the public education system managed to survive and thrive. 

  Public education did a great job unifying the country by providing basic education for all, and setting standards for generations to come. Public education unifies the public by pushing individuals to become working members of society and creating equality. The book notes in the last paragraph of the common school that there is no point in debating if public schooling is “a good thing or a bad thing”, and emphasizes that we should focus on improving it instead. I agree with this statement strongly, so I picked the phrase for this project. 

Public education divided the nation because of political and economic policies, funding, and accessibility. Early public schools with issues such as racism, inequality, and lack of resources. Quality of education was not equal between two different institutions and quality depended on many factors, such as funding. Furthermore, public schools also had to compete directly with private schools with more funding and resources. 

Reflecting on my thoughts throughout the book's first chapter, I began to think a lot about my time in elementary school. I remember how underfunded my elementary school was, and how overpacked my class was. My class used to have to cut boxtops to redeem for school supplies. Going through the text I realized the issues discussed were also prevalent when I was younger and it makes me wonder if it is still the same today. Turns out it is, at least somewhat; in New Jersey, there are a lot of underfunded schools, and many of those underfunded schools are also understaffed and face issues with teacher and faculty shortages due to funding. (1)  Despite state government involvement, New Jersey is split on the issue of underfunded public schools. 

Reading this chapter has sparked my curiosity and made me research the world of antique photographs of schoolhouses and public schools. I find it fascinating how much schooling has evolved. The photos are separated into eras, and each is distinct from the last. I will share some that I found interesting. 

Works Cited

Weber, M. (2021, July 9). The consequences of school underfunding. New Jersey Policy Perspective. Retrieved September 26, 2022, from https://www.njpp.org/publications/report/the-consequences-of-school-underfunding/