Horace Mann

My name is Horace Mann. I am an educator, a politician, and active member of the schooling community. I have found myself engaging in almost every aspect of reformation. As secretary of the Massachusetts Commission to Improve Education I strongly agree in a “common school”. This is a system of schools that are open to everyone regardless of race or social class. The government, state and national, should take a greater role in regulating free education. My Antioch College has high standards to most colleges. It is the first school to teach women and blacks as equals. Our female faculty members are considered equals to their male counterparts. Being a member of the House of Representatives gives me ample amount of opportunities to campaign against slavery as well as further expanding the common school. I take an active role in the temperance movement, trying to ban the selling of alcoholic beverages. The Unitarian religion took me in as a member. There I met many of my friends including William Ellery Channing and my wife Mary Peabody.