Benjamin Rush

1746-1813

I. A general, uniform system of education was needed.

II. Schools must foster a "supreme regard for the country."

III. Pupils "must be taught that there can be no durable liberty in a republic and that government . . . is progressive in nature."

IV. Children’s permissible amusements must also be chosen for their ability to foster democratic values.

V. The new society required a new kind of education.

VI. Latin and Greek were not suited to American education.

VII. The principle business of the new nation should be discovery and application of the resources of the continent and education should be directed at that.

VIII. The focus of higher education should be science, not classics. (There isn't time for both.)

IX. Curriculum should be suitable for American democracy.

A. first 8 years -- speaking, spelling, reading and writing English

B. between 12 and 14, arithmetic and simple math.

C. by the age of 12, mastery of natural history, geography, French and German

D. between 14 and 18, grammar, oratory, criticism, higher math, philosophy, chemistry, logic, metaphysics, chronology, history, government, the principle of agriculture and manufactures, and "everything else that is necessary to qualify him (boys only) for public usefulness and private happiness."

E. a course of lectures to teach about the evidences, doctrines, and precepts of the Christian religion.

X. Special emphasis on history of nationalistic purposes.

XI. Young men should be made into "republican machines"by education.

XII. Women should be educated in citizenship "for they must concur in all our plans of education for young men."

XIII. Women should be educated suitably "for the discharge of this most important duty as mothers."(mastery of English language and the ability to read and write well; knowledge of figures and bookkeeping; acquaintance with geography and some instruction in chronology, vocal music and dancing, the reading of history, travels, poetry, and moral essays -- and regular instruction in the Christian religion)

XIV. Schools must foster and teach about American manners and institutions, and teach how to forget European institutions.

XV. The government should "liberally"support such schools.