Part One, American Government and U.S. Constitution

Lesson 22: Importance of an Educated Electorate

(Principle 23)	Name: _______________________

Part II: The Founders' Basic Principles –	28 Great Ideas that Changed the World

Lesson 22 Time: 36:15 [for Sunday, August 10, 2014]

The 5000 Year Leap: 23rd Principle, Reading Assignment: (pages 249-256);

Importance of an Educated Electorate

Lesson objectives: As a result of this lesson, the student should be able to discuss the following questions/topics:

1. What underlying principle compelled the founders to advocate universal education? (page 249)

Educating the Whole People [why? ignorant people easily controlled by tyranicals]

• no nation ever attempted

• necessary ingredient for freedom

2. How was Massachusetts organized to provide universal education? What year was this system established? (250)

Beginning of Public Education

• Massachusetts - 1647 (quote by John Adams)

-community of 50 families = grammar school [5 basics]

–reading – writing – ciphering [mathematics] – history – Bible Study[!]

-community of 100 families = secondary school

–advanced studies – prepare for Harvard [college]

• Illegal not to have a school! (quote)

3. How did John Adams describe public education in New England? (251)

School Boards (John Fisk, correction, on "boards")

• local

• highly conscientious people

-3 year term (3 to be familiar with duties by doing these:)

-visit all schools once a month

-make a report

-decide on textbooks

-recruit and certify teachers (local and school boards, then, now on state level)

4. Describe local school boards in New England during the founding era. (251)

Three Guides to a Proper Education System

1 • locally supported	2 • parent (primary resp) directed	3 • professionally assisted

(school systems should keep a focus on PARENTS)

5. Compare the literacy rates of Europe and America at that time. (251)

European Literacy (John Adams, quote)

• illiteracy common in most countries

• France – only 500,000 out of 24 million could read and write [This was only 2%!]

American Literacy (growing problem now here, and dollar$ thrown at it doesn't work!)

• very little formal education

• basics taught – reading, writing, arithmetic

• mostly Self-learning in colonies

• Ben Franklin, George Washington [– both self-taught]

6. How did Alexis de Tocqueville describe the American education system in 1831? (252)

Alexis de Toqueville

• Americans (to him) were the most enlightened in world (quote)

• not a single district in ignorance

7. How did Tocqueville characterize the American pioneer? (252-53)

• wilderness people educated (quote) [most in rustic log houses kept primitive]

-dress and speaks well

-brings Bible, axe, newspapers

-exceeds any place in France

8. According to Tocqueville, how well acquainted were Americans with their system of government? (253-54)

• All Americans - even children know answers [Catechism of Constitution, 1828]

9. Why were even the young children knowledgeable about their government at that time? (254)

Americans Speak with Great Eloquence

• Daniel Webster - 1843 (on the correct use of English language)

-Americans speak better English than in England

10. How well did these early Americans know the English language? To what did they attribute this knowledge? (255)

-Attributes language to the influence of Bible (should be maintained at a high priority:)	-better reading	-right views on civil liberty (quote)

11. What did knowledge of the Bible do for Americans of that era? (255-56)

• What happens to a nation when Bible reading is prohibited?

5 charts following 1960 for USA: See DVD for actual. Others printed for lesson.

1) Birth Rates of Unmarried Girls. 2) Violent crimes chart 3)STD Sexually Transmitted diseases 4) SAT scores 5) Family Stability – Single Parent Households