The Brian Lehrer Show
100 Years of 100 Things: Public Education
Apr 18, 2025
In this riveting discussion, Jonathan Zimmerman, a historian of education at the University of Pennsylvania, dives into a century of American public education. He unpacks the evolution from community schools to state-run systems, highlighting compulsory education and urbanization's impact. Zimmerman addresses funding disparities, the effects of the No Child Left Behind Act, and contrasts U.S. and European educational models. The conversation also tackles the future of public schooling amid debates on vouchers, sparking insights on education's role in shaping society.
32:56
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Quick takeaways
- The evolution of American public education reflects a shift from community-based schools to centralized systems driven by urbanization and economic factors.
- The reliance on local property taxes for funding public education has perpetuated inequalities, complicating efforts to achieve equitable resources for all students.
Deep dives
Evolution of American Public Education
American public education evolved from community-based and church-affiliated schools in the colonial era to more structured state systems by the early 20th century. Figures like Horace Mann were instrumental in creating common school systems in the 1830s and 1840s, aiming for a unified curriculum and standardized teacher qualifications, which became enforceable by the turn of the century. By the 1920s, education became compulsory, and significant increases in high school attendance occurred, driven by both economic factors and societal changes. The shift from small, rural one-room schoolhouses to centralized schools marked a pivotal transition as urbanization changed the educational landscape.
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