Perhaps one of the most concise descriptions of how the 19 th century prussian schooling system became a model for american schools can be found in the wikipedia entry emulation of the prussian education system in the. During that time, elite pupils would be elected to continue their educations at a secondary level and would be trained to think, control, educate, and rule the country in their adulthoods. May 06, 2020 the prussian education system is the model for education in many modern nations, including the united states. Although public schools do not have a bright past, hints of a bright future are starting. The formation of the american public education system began in the kingdom of prussia around 1525, a former kingdom in northcentral germany with an extension of lands that crossed. The origins of the american public education system farm wars. Statedirected schools find their roots in the prussian schools of the early 19 th.
Born of prussias military failings in the napoleonic wars, the german kingdom. The prussian education system is the model for education in many modern nations, including the united states. And, when i say everything, i mean the values, the culture, the ideologies, the attitudes, the music, the priorities, and pretty much everything else that defines modernity, which is to my mind more and more resembling some kind of hybrid frankensteinlike. Originally the prussian ed system pes was to train soldiers so they could be controlled in order to defeat napoleon.
Gatto analyzes the agendas of the first generation of great educational philanthropists. Parts of the prussian education system have served as models for the education systems in a number of other countries, including japan and the united states. History buffs will recall that frederick was different from most european despots of that era. The russian educational system and the american systems are remarkably similar with some differences.
He brought the german system in and set the purpose of the schools to alienate children from parental influence and. The prussian educational system consisted of tiers. Few americans understand that our governmentcontrolled school system was founded upon authoritarian ambitions. King fredrick the great, designed the prussian system to instill obedience, basic skills, and conformity.
Aug 05, 2018 the system of education that we use in the united states and many other nations is called the prussian model. American educators were fascinated by german educational trends. This definition by political program is understandable. Kennedy school, with 1700 american, german and other students, is also very competitive. The system became very popular worldwide and survives to this day in various forms. The new education system would create the unit he had in mind. The prussian education system was a system of mandatory education dating to the early 19th century. The prussian system which developed overtime during the 19th century was total in scope and was designed to reinforce nationalism and the eventual creation of the german empire 2nd reich after the defeat of france, in the francoprussian war, and they did this despite many efforts by both the french and british to restrict the ambitions of.
One of the prime importers of the german educational system into the united states was william t. It also exposes the affects of compulsory schooling on america, drawing both from history showing alarming drops in education, literacy, and much more and 30 years of school. The american education modelwas actually copied from the 18thcentury prussian model designed to create docile subjects and factory workers. The prussian educational reforms inspired other countries and remains important as a biopower in the foucaultian sense for nationbuilding. Prussian model american education in the nineteenth century. Prussian schooling system became a model for american schools can be found in the wikipedia entry emulation of the prussian education system in the united states. Droysen and the prussian school of history on jstor. Oct 10, 2019 early american schooling was dominated by homeschooling, along with a vibrant freemarket education ecosystem. The series includes eye opening accounts of gattos time as a school teacher, while elucidating the notsowellknown history of modern schooling in america. May 28, 2015 the prussian system which developed overtime during the 19th century was total in scope and was designed to reinforce nationalism and the eventual creation of the german empire 2nd reich after the defeat of france, in the franco prussian war, and they did this despite many efforts by both the french and british to restrict the ambitions of. Their major political outlook is more recognizable than the theories. The roots of modern public schooling horace mann, credited as the father of the american public school system, studied a wide variety of educational models before implementing the prussian system designed by fredrick the great. The result was a publiclyfunded system where, in every american classroom, groups of about 28 students of roughly the same age are taught by one teacher, usually in an 800 squarefoot room.
In one analysis titled, the prussian german educational system, gatto informs us of the model america reply the prussian connection to american schooling by john taylor gatto. Jul 30, 20 the american public education system was directly imported from prussia modern day germany. Thus, in 1852, massachusetts became the first state to mandate compulsory education of children in primary school. Fast forward to today and, with the current global economic climate, it seems apparent that the now established education system is unable to meet the needs of our hyperconnected society a society that is in a constant state of evolution. In the 1840s, mann lobbied to have massachusetts adopt the prussian school system with full understanding of its capabilities and why it was created in prussia. The traditional path to american higher education is typically through a university, the most prestigious form of higher education in the united states.
Mann is credited as the father of the american public school system, he researched a selection of educational models before being enamored with and installing the prussian system. This monograph is a revision of a paper submitted for consideration during the 2008 u. History buffs will recall that frederick was different from most eur. Once it was instituted, the american student population, one of the most internationally diverse in the world, came one step closer to achieving equal access to highcaliber educations. These governmentrun schools are derived from the prussian school system that began in the 19th century. Throughout history, the idea of those in power to oversee the education system started in the 16th century. The origins of the american public education system farm. King frederick created a system that was engineered to teach obedience and solidify his control. Projecting the underground history of american education further.
This model of free and compulsory education was designed by the prussian emperor, in order to. With the prussian emphasis on social cohesion, mann was particularly interested in how they were using their primary public schools to unify the german people. In bonn, frankfurt, hamburg, berlin and other cities there are ib schools that are part of the public school system, but admittance is usually very limited and highly competitive. Lets hear it for the prussian king frederick the great. In 1818, john griscom gave a favorable report of prussian education. Emulation of the prussian education system in the united states. The invented history of the factory model of education.
Mar 12, 2018 ive reached an age now, unfortunately, where im completely out of step with the entire current and flow of the times. The prussian connection to american schooling part 1, by. It shows how compulsory schooling came to be as it is in america with a lure of utopia and a very strong prussian connection which should be cause for much concern. This model of free and compulsory education was designed by the prussian emperor, in order to generate obedient workers and soldiers who would not question his authority. Rockefeller founded the general education board, which provided major funding for schools across the country and was especially active in promoting the statecontrolled public school movement. May 09, 2012 the result was a publiclyfunded system where, in every american classroom, groups of about 28 students of roughly the same age are taught by one teacher, usually in an 800 squarefoot room. Recognizing it as the perfect vehicle for social engineering, the early proponents of the prussian design in america rechristened as the american public school system sought to utilize it to reshape society.
The power to oversee the education system, a historical. Early american schooling was dominated by homeschooling, along with a vibrant freemarket education ecosystem. The prussian german educational system uncommon sense. Mar 14, 2012 few americans understand that our governmentcontrolled school system was founded upon authoritarian ambitions. The american public education system was directly imported from prussia modern day germany. The system was even used by missionaries to instruct native american children through the 1840s. How horace mann worked to destroy traditional educationand.
Aug 28, 2014 15 videos play all the underground history of american education by john taylor gatto schoolsuckspodcast john taylor gatto state controlled consciousness duration. While this international trade plan was developing, the fundamental question was whether the foreign governments involved might also be enlisted to protect or even legitimize that trade. Some of the similarities include concerns about adequate funding, lessening respect given to teachers, teacher quality, standardized testing, teacher pay, curriculum, and differentiation. The seed that became american schooling, twentiethcentury style, was planted in 1806 when napoleons amateur soldiers bested the professional soldiers of prussia at the battle of jena.
The organizational model mann and others adopted for use in massachusetts and elsewhere was the prussian educational system as described by french philosopher victor cousin in his 1833 book report on the condition of public instruction in germany, and particularly prussia. It produced soldiers that could fight a world coalition to a standstill and. In his seventh annual report of the massachusetts board of education in 1843, mann praised the prussian education system even though he knew the destructive power it had. As other american education leaders were doing at the time, mann traveled to prussia in 1843 to study its primary education system and its teacher education seminaries normal schools.
Posts about prussian origin of american public schools written by fiercetruth4u. The revealing origins of us public education pursuing. It is true this is an extreme case, and is supposed to describe an excellent school. Sitting the students down and training them to listen to the expert at the front of the room could help them follow orders fro. Spread the loveonce upon a time, enthusiasts designed a formal education system to meet the economic demands of the industrial revolution. A friend gave me a copy of this book in 2009, while i was gaining some recognition for school sucks podcast. Even after just a quick skim, i knew this was extremely important work. State governments set overall educational standards, often mandate standardized tests for k12 public school systems and supervise, usually through a board of regents, state colleges, and universities.
Jul 29, 20 the american public education system was directly imported from prussia modern day germany. He was in search of a new education model to better control the american students. Well, the prussian emperor was concerned about the previous and terrible defeat of the prussian army by napoleon bonapartes forces in 1806. Full text of prussian schools through american eyes. The prussian industrial model the roots of modern public schooling horace mann, credited as the father of the american public school system, studied a wide variety of educational models before implementing the prussian system designed by fredrick the great. Oct 15, 2011 the particular utopia american believers chose to bring to the schoolhouse was prussian. These videos consist of wellchosen excerpts from the underground history of american education, because they strike the root of the issues we see in american schools today.
This is the second post in a series examining the origins of our governmentcontrolled school system. Universities in the united states are institutions that issue bachelors, masters, professional, or doctorate degrees. The prussian education system refers to the system of education established in prussia as a result of educational reforms in the late 18th and early 19th century, which has had widespread influence since. The current american school system took root around the turn of the century. How horace mann worked to destroy traditional education. Prior this reform to model american schools after the prussian common school system, public education varied dramatically between schools. Even though it is a public school, admission to berlins john f. The prussian or little german kleindeutsch school of history is normally defined in terms of the political program that its adherents advanced. The model was adopted by an oppressive prussian system that wanted to brainwash its citizens into loyalty. On 6 april 1776, the continental congress resolved to open trade to all nations except great britain. Nasa images solar system collection ames research center. Prussian origin of american public schools parapolitical. For what its worth, prussia was not highly industrialized when frederick the great formalized its education system in the late 1700s.
It is, essentially, a model of mandatory education, in which all members of a country must attend school up to a certain level. Nasa images solar system collection ames research center brooklyn museum full text of prussian schools through american eyes. His concern was not that prussian forces had been defeated but that prussian soldiers had acted as individuals and not as a unit. The prussian education system was introduced as a basic concept in the late 18th century and was significantly enhanced after prussias defeat in the early stages of the napoleonic wars.
In early 1800s american classrooms, students governed. Ravitchs latest book the death and life of the great american school system criticizes the effect of the recent gazillionaires bill gates et al philanthropy on modern education. The prussian system was the driver of modern science, without it you wouldnt drive cars, have x rays, use quantum theories you would. The true roots of the american public school system were. Further, they looked to the prussian school system centralized, with truant officers, grades and uniform curriculum as their model for what public education ought to look like. Horace manns evaluation referred to as the first great american advocate of public education, horace mann embarked on a journey to europe in 1843 to evaluate national school. From common schools to corporate education reform similar. Sep 16, 2010 in one analysis titled, the prussian german educational system, gatto informs us of the model america reply the prussian connection to american schooling by john taylor gatto wil nemer says. May 26, 2018 horace mann thought that the prussian model. The prussian general staff and professional military education.
The prussian model and the failure of personal ethics. Aug 29, 2019 throughout history, the idea of those in power to oversee the education system started in the 16th century. Army command and general staff college historical writing competition for. Army command and general staff college historical writing competition for cgsc course 0801. Prussian school model or prussian education system is a model of schooling that dates back to martin luther and frederick the great of prussia see. The prussian system produced related to its size the best most modern industral nation state ever. Horace mann may 4, 1796 august 2, 1859 was an american educational reformer and whig politician known for his commitment to promoting public education. Horace mann the former us representative then massachusetts state senator went to europe to research the prussian model of public education in the 1840s. The history and results of americas disastrous public school. The oweninspired prussian system captured the imagination of mann and his. Well, most people may not be aware that americas model of public schooling is derived from fredericks revolutionary system of public education in 18th century prussia. Graduating from the staff college was a prerequisite for appointment to the prussian general staff later the german general staff. What are the effects of the prussian educational system in. In this book, the term is used in pejorative the central design flaw of the prussian system is the coherenceinterference problem.
How to break free of our 19thcentury factorymodel education. May, 2019 but it would be this prussian model of controlbyschooling that 19thcentury american politicians would bring to our nationand the one that is still with us today. Protests against our rights, prussian origin of american public schools, school as mass mind control, social engineering, social engineering the youth, studies in. Or would the misfortune of a poor examination lead him to distrust his former convictions, and conclude that the school was a failure after all. A school run on the lancaster principle looked different than any youve ever attended. The particular utopia american believers chose to bring to the schoolhouse was prussian.