Horace Mann is called The Father of the Common School and was one of the first progressive thinkers on education in the United States. His Annual Reports to the Massachusetts Board of Education, written between 1837 and 1848, are wide-ranging essays on topics, including philosophical arguments on the role of education in a democracy, curricular matters such as textbook choice and methods of reading instruction, and nitty-gritty details of classroom furnishings and buildings. Even in the much-changed society of the 21st century, much of Mann's writing still speaks to us, recalling us to the roots of our faith in education for all. - Summary by Maria Kasper

BnF collection ebooks - "La plupart des arguments qui militent en faveur de l'éducation ont été si souvent développés, qu'en prenant la parole pour traiter ce sujet devant vous, je ne peux que faire appel à votre jugement et à votre bon sens pour en attester l'importance, persuadé qu'il n'est pas besoin de mon propre témoignage pour affermir et fortifier vos sentiments et vos convictions à cet égard."