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The Horace Mann League of the USA

Purposes

Facts and Quotes of Horace Mann

The Horace Mann League exists to:

1. Perpetuate the ideals of Horace Mann.

2. Preserve and support the common public school.

3. Preserve the separation of church and state and the use of government funds for only public schools.

PURPOSES

The purposes of this league are patriotic and educational. Its chief object shall be to foster and strengthen the American public school and increase the esteem in which the public school is held and the appreciation of its importance among all Americans.

The Horace Mann League of the United States of America was founded by a group of leading educators in 1922. It was originally chartered under the laws of the state of Delaware, and later by the state of Maryland.

The Horace Mann League exists to perpetuate the ideals of Horace Mann, the founder of the American public school system. Its basic purpose and activities are to strengthen our public schools. The League believes that the public school system of the United States is an indispensable agency for the perpetuation of the ideals of our democracy and a most necessary unifying and dynamic influence in American life. According to the League's beliefs, our public schools should be free, classless, non sectarian, and open to all of the children of all of the people. The schools should be dominated by such purposes as will insure the preparation of children and youth for effective citizenship in our democracy.

The League believes that the American tradition of separation of church and state must be preserved inviolate and should be most vigorously and zealously safeguarded. The League grants the right of special interest groups, included various religious sects, to maintain their own schools so long as such schools meet the standards defined by the states in which they are located. The League believes that these separate or non-public schools should be financed entirely by their supporters and is therefore unalterably opposed to proposals to devote public funds either to the direct or to the indirect support of school schools.

The League favors the generous financial support of the public schools by local, state, and federal funds. It believes, however, that federal grants should be so made that there will be no federal control or interference in the administration, curriculum, personnel, or instructional procedures of local school systems.

The League seeks the active support of those educators and laymen who are committed to the ideals of Horace Mann and who believe in the aims and polices set forth in this platform.

The Life of Horace Mann

1796 Born, Franklin Massachusetts (5/4)
1819 Graduate Brown University
1821 Graduate Law School
1823 Attorney, Deham, MA
1827 Massachusetts House of Rep.
1836 President of Mass. Senate
1837 Appointed Sec. of Mass. B.O.E.
1839 Opened normal school in USA
1848 U.S. House of Representatives
1852 President of Antioch College
1859 Died at Antioch College (8/2)

Statements


In our country, and in our times, no man is worthy the honored name of a statesman, who does not include the highest practicable education of the people in all his plans of administration.

Horace Mann

If ever there was a cause, if ever there can be a cause, worthy to be upheld by all of toil or sacrifice that the human heart can endure, it is the cause of education.

Horace Mann