Horace Mann, 1842 Journal

The Pecuniary Value of educatoin by Horace Mann, 1842.
Horace Mann had been giving speeches in gain support for public education. This was his Fifth Annual Report and it was used to support the poor. He used this to show people that public education would benefit the population as a whole.
He understands that it is not a common goal of the population to have public education but it is a necessity none the less. It is important for people to demand public education. He is well aware of “Thousands who are now indifferent about the education of their offspring because they foresee no reimbursement in kind, no return in money, or in money’s worth, for money expended.” (Horace Mann) but that doesn’t mean that the reasons are not there. It goes deeper then a short term money loss. Horace Mann works to explain to the people that their money that is being used now will give them an opportunity for their children to make more, it will provide them with a more informed population, and a better government over all. Education isn’t an item you buy that will at some point lose its value, education is an investment in a child’s future. The people of the country have to see that this is goal is not for one person or one social class, this should be a common goal of all people. A child with out an education “would have been condemned to perpetual inferiority of condition and subjected to all the evils of want and poverty…” (Horace Mann) There is no hope for an American for success without an education. What is an American with no hope? Are they still considered an American at all? America is supposed to be the land of opportunity. America is the land that disregarded the British class system, and fought for a land that would allow to attempt to work for what they wanted. Without public education this was not the same America that was fought for. It is a mockery to use the same title. The United States may not assign the classes but it locks them in place by not offering a basic tool to improve future generation’s ways of life. These schools would bring a light of hope to every citizen in the country because not only would they be eliminating the permanent classes, but they would also be living in the real Untied States that were fought for.
Horace Mann was a very powerful speaker. He used powerful ideas that connected to the people on a deeper level. Horace Mann had truth behind his words. I believe that his speeches were so moving because he had heart behind everything that he said. He dared to go against the popular idea. He was facing what could seem to be an impossible task but handled gracefully. He doesn’t show anger but rather sadness that a public education system has been non excitant in the country. He shows hope for a brighter day and delivers an amazing speech.