State Historical Society of Iowa

Excerpts from the Commissioners' Report of Recommendations for Iowa School Laws, 1856

 Download Image Resource

Courtesy of the State Historical Society of Iowa, 1856

Description

In 1856, the Iowa legislature determined that the school system in the state needed reform. To study Iowa's system and work toward improvement, they hired the most famous school reformer of the period, Horace Mann, and Amos Dean as commissioners to recommend measures for state improvement.

Transcript of Excerpts from the Commissioners' Report of Recommendations for Iowa School Laws

Source Dependent Questions

  • Why do you think the Iowa legislature would hire someone from Massachusetts (Horace Mann) to make recommendations about Iowa's schools? Consider that Horace Mann was one of the most influential educators of the antebellum period and he was well-known throughout the United States. Do you agree with their decision? Why or why not?
  • In the second paragraph, Mann and his fellow commissioner refer to the absence of a Mr. Bissell who was to give them "local knowledge". How do you think the absence of "local knowledge" might impact the level of credibility of the commissioners?
  • How do the commissioners justify their recommendations? Cite evidence from the text.

Citation Information