The Common School Movement is considered a turning point in education. Government funded schools did not exist previously in colonial America. The concept of a free, public education opened the doors to education. In the days of the Common School Movement, educators such as Horace Mann argued for increased government funding for public schools. Today, this argument has not changed and educators still argue for increased funding of public education. What, in your view, are the most effective arguments for and against increased taxation for public school funding? Would you pay more taxes to support free, public education?

The Common School Movement brought about public schools that we have today. "The period between 1830 and 1860 has been called the "Age of the Common School," a period...