| All Souls Quarterly Review | ||||
Vol.
VIII, No. 4 |
Winter 2003- 2004 | |||
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The All Souls Historical Society sponsored its annual Bellows Lecture on March 4 in Friendship Hall. The speaker was Prof. James W. Fraser who has been a longtime activist for public education policy. His topic was: “Horace Mann: Educator, Abolitionist and Unitarian.” All those activities fit well into our general theme of highlighting important movements during the time Bellows lived and preached at All Souls. Horace Mann, who lived during the first half of the 19th century (he died in 1859), is frequently called the “father of American public education.” He did not start out to be an educator. Instead, he turned to law and politics. But he was soon appointed the first Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education, and in that position, he had a chance to apply his moral concepts and his acquired Unitarian point of view to what he considered to be an inadequate public education system. Like Jefferson, he believed that our democracy requires an educated public. |
Prof. James W.
Fraser |
He was a strong proponent of the idea that public schools should be attended by every child—rich and poor together. He was also a strong advocate for raising taxes for public education and he believed in rigorous training for teachers.
Where Horace Mann did not succeed in his endeavor was in the area of church and state. His proposals for a general moral education without reference to specific faiths were considered to be too Unitarian to be accepted in the climate of his time.
Mann returned to politics for a second term in the Massachusetts Senate. Eventually though, his hopes for education led him to found Antioch College in Ohio and be its first President. To this day, his memory is fondly preserved by the Antioch community.
All of these accomplishments still left him free to become an ardent Abolitionist, fighting the restrictions on the North before the Civil War to extend protection to escaping slaves.
Professor Frazer pointed out that there is a small but important connection between Horace Mann and Henry Whitney Bellows, who became an important fundraiser for Antioch College. All Souls Church contributed $8,000 to Antioch in 1854—a not inconsiderable gift for that time.
Horace Mann left an indelible mark on education still evident to this day. Prof. Frazer quoted a phrase from Mann still in use today:
“Be afraid to die without accomplishing one great thing for humanity.”