Posted: April 25th, 2025

The Common School Movement, Policies, and Influencers

 Based on the Module 1 readings, describing the key influencers of both the Common School Movement and the Progressive Education Movement. Discuss how the key influencers made decisions and implemented initiatives that impact education today. What specific philosophies, decisions, policies, or laws from the past helped shape education in today’s world? Be specific. APA format You may organize by timeline or by influencer.  

The following influencers should be included:

• Horace Mann
• Benjamin Rush
• John Dewey
• Edward Thorndike

Provide a thorough and insightful comparison of the common school and progressive education movements, identifying key similarities and differences between the two with well-supported evidence.

Required Reading

Jeynes, W. (2007). American educational history: School, society, and the common good. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. (Read Chapters 3–8.)

Labaree, D. F. (2010). Someone has to fail. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. (Read Chapters 1–4.)