Description
How a con artist reformer shaped America''s modern public schools.
Two centuries ago, London school reformer Joseph Lancaster swept into New York City to revolutionize its public schools. Pennsylvania and Massachusetts passed laws mandating Lancaster''s methods, and cities such as Albany, Savannah, Detroit, and Baltimore soon followed. In Mr. Lancaster''s System, Adam Laats tells the story of how this abusive, scheming reformer fooled the world into believing his system could provide free high-quality education for poor children. The system never worked as promised, but thanks to real work done by students, teachers, and families, Lancaster''s failed reforms eventually led to the creation of the modern public school system.
Lancaster''s idea was simple: instead of hiring expensive adult teachers, Lancasterian schools made children teach one another to read, write, and behave properly. America''s city leaders poured the equivalent of millions of dollars int
