Breanna Davis' LTED Blog

  Reflecting on Part II of School: The Story of American Public Education Part II of School: The Story of American Public Education provided an eye-opening examination of the ways American schools have historically navigated the complex challenge of educating all children. From addressing the needs of foreign-born students to grappling with socioeconomic disparities, this section forced me to reflect deeply on both the progress and persistent flaws in the public education system. Our group discussions pushed me to consider critical questions: Who truly benefits from the way schools are structured, and who gets left behind? Educating All Children: An Ongoing Challenge One of the primary themes in Part II is the question of how to educate all children, regardless of their background. The documentary highlights how the influx of immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries shaped the American school system. Schools became instruments for Americanization, teaching English and ...

  Public education in the United States has long been held as a unifying force in American society. As explored in Part I of School: The Story of American Public Education, the evolution of the public school system reflects both the nation’s democratic ideals and its deep-seated inequalities. This section of the book provided valuable historical insight into the foundational goals of public education while also shedding light on the persistent challenges that have shaped schooling in America. Through our group discussions, word rankings, and critical analysis of key phrases and sentences, I have gained a deeper understanding of the ways in which education serves as both a bridge and a barrier in American society. Public Education as a Unifying Force Horace Mann, often called the “Father of American Public Education,” was one of the strongest proponents of the idea that public schools could unify the nation. In the 19th century, Mann and other reformers envisioned a system where chi...