Public School: One for All

Boostrom
EDUC 173
17 February 2012
Public School: One for All
Throughout out the history of the United States the idea of mandated public school by the government has been controversial. In 1971, Ivan Illich wrote a book explaining his views on government-mandated education. He believes that no matter how hard teachers try there will not be universal education. The following explains four different degrees of agreement and disagreement on the issue from 19th century people.
A quote taken from McGuffey’s sixth eclectic reader in 1863 goes as follows, “The business of training youth in elocution, must be commenced in childhood (Fraser 85).” It can be gathered from this quote that McGuffey would support mandated education, especially since he had published a primer, a speller, and four readers to further the education of children. He believes that all children should be well versed in language, pronunciation, and reading. In this sense, McGuffey disagrees with Illich’s opinion about deschooling society. In fact, McGuffey supports education through his work with material to publicly educate young children.
Frederick Dougless would agree with Illich with the goal of mandated public school being impossible for all. As Mr. Auld, Dougless’ owner, says in Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Dougless: An American Slave, “…It would make him discontented and unhappy (Fraser 105).” Dougless respondes to this statement with a desire to further his education with gusto in secret. By the time he becomes fairly more educated in many different matter of the world, Dougless finds himself heavy with discontent and yearning yet again to hold his blissful ignorance. In the early 19th century it would not have been a plausible idea to educate the enslaved people because it would have driven them all mad. In this sense, mandated education would not only been impossible, but it would have caused great unrest amongst those in lesser positions.
Calvin E. Stowe profoundly disagrees with Illich’s proposition about deschooling America. Stowe expresses his views with this quote, “…now actually pursued by thousands of school masters in the best district schools that have ever been organized. It can be done, for it has been done it is now done, and it out to be done. If it can be done in Europe, I believe it can be done in the United States (Fraser 93).” Stowe passionately states how he feels the United States was behind in the times, but is now catching up to Prussia by founding schools that are for everyone. He fights for “a system of common school instruction, fully adequate to all the wants of our population,” meaning that every person needs to be educated, in complete disagreement with Illich’s ideals of mandated school. Stowe truly fights for the system.
“In order that the reader may understand me and why I lay so much stress upon the importance of pushing the doctrine of industrial education for the Negro, it is necessary…” –Booker T. Washington (Fraser 118). Washington finds education necessary to increase the understanding of the African Americans because it will help them in the work place. He later goes on to say, “…acquisition of a knowledge of literature and science, makes a man … above all good (Fraser 119).” This shows how devoted to the spread of education Washington is. He feels it improves upon the mind in such a way as to right any learned wrongs and creates a beautiful environment in which to explore. He would have disagreed with Illich’s views on deschooling America. Washington absolutely wanted to spread knowledge throughout.
These four gentleman have widely varied views on Illich’s deschoolization of America. Whether they agree or disagree with Illich, they hold strong views on their position. Especially in the 19th century, being able to hold a position in opposition of public opinion was quite a feat. If Illich’s position is correct, America’s schooling system needs to have a great change to accomplish what needs to be done.
















Work Cited
Cohen, Rosetta Marantz., and Samuel Scheer. The Work of Teachers in America: A Social History through Stories. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1997.
Fraser, James W. The School in the United States: A Documentary History. New York: Routledge, 2010.