biography
| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1811–1900)
|
| biography:
| Educator, born in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Raised by his prosperous farmer-father, he went to Yale (1830 BA) where he came to feel strongly about the need for education for all classes of Americans. He taught at an academy for one year, then read law and was admitted to the bar (1835). During 1835–6 he travelled in Europe, where he met many prominent individuals. Serving in the Connecticut legislature (1837–9), he set up and headed a board to supervise the common schools of the state, and during four years he greatly upgraded the public schools attended by the state's poor. During 1843–9 he was hired by Rhode Island and effected much the same kind of reforms. By now he was known throughout most of the USA for his advanced views on public education and was much in demand as a speaker. He returned to Connecticut (1849) to head a new teachers training school and serve as superintendent of the state's public schools. In 1855 he founded the American Journal of Education through which, as publisher and editor until 1882, he greatly helped to improve public education throughout the USA. Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin (1858–60) and president of St John's College (Annapolis, MD) (1866–7), he went on to be the first US commissioner of education (1867–70). Along with Horace Mann, he earned his status as the founder of the modern public education system in America. |
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