I am very busy man and so little time for such frivolities but I have a few moments between reports to the Massachusetts School Board and I will entertain your wonderings about the common school movement, about my vision for American education, and why those know-nothings over in New York State really should stop what they're doing and listen to me. If needed, I many bring in my close companion and fellow abolitionist, u/MissCBeecher. Her thoughts on what it will take to educate the children of our race are truly remarkable. Go ahead, ask me anything. Proof I am who I say I am.
Horace! Why should we even educate the commoners? Isn't education a rich mans profession?
DOES YOUR VISION OWE ANYTHING TO THE NOBLE AND VENERATED EDUCATION SYSTEM DEVISED BY THE LAWGIVER LYKOURGOS AT SPARTA!
How do you intend to fund such an endeavour? It is truly expensive to educate the laity, and well beyond a kingdom's resources. Surely it is better to allow the guilds and yeoman to educate their children as they see fit? What use can letters be to the poor man's son? Indeed, in the past it has proven to be a hazard to the order of society! We wonder if you have truly considered the negatives of your plan.
Mr Mann, What do you see as the end state for American Education?
Mr. Mann, this seems like an expensive undertaking. Perhaps you might consider placing it all in the hands of the wealthiest Americans--that is to say, those God has blessed with good fortune and therefore the intelligence and perspective to manage this endeavour.
What do you think about slaves learning to read?
What role does school have in making immigrants into new citizens? Would you be willing to teach mathematics in languages other than English?
As I asked Mrs Beecher:
Have you met Mr. LeClerc or Mr. Gallaudet? Do you have opinions on the oralism/manualism controversy?
More broadly, what place do disabled children have at common schools and in the movement?
What's your opinion on phonics?
The Prussian model you imported was certainly good at creating authority structures that excelled at managing unruly children (as you put it) but were there any downsides you were aware of to the Prussian approach?
You won't have heard about this in your time, but The Kingdom of Prussia is no more. Her monarchy and all of its nobility renounced their titles in the German revolution of 1918-19.
How do you feel about the modern SAT and other standardized tests?