Historical Perspectives: Entry #1

1. What are your personal thoughts regarding the innovators and the "makers?"
· I view the “Innovators” as models of society who inspired others. They are the individuals who are the first at doing something and the ones who open up opportunities for others.
· “Makers” are the individuals who set the ground work for results to occur. They are the people with visions and plans that work to see that their goals are achieved.
2. Select one innovator and one "maker" that you feel truly influenced public education as we know it today.
· Linda Brown Thompson is seen as an innovator for she helped lead to the abolishment of the separate but equal doctrine in the 1950’s. This young lady helped the merge of different ethnicities learn under the same roof with the same opportunities as the majority population of the whites.
· Horace Mann is considered a “maker” due to his reputation as the father of American public school education. Mann was named the first Secretary of the State Board of Education in Massachusetts and saw the need for public support and public awareness of the educational problems of poor teaching, substandard materials, inferior school committees and pupil absences. Mann had successful campaign which led to the improvement of schools throughout the state. Mann also founded the first school for training teachers. Mann stressed the importance of improving education by establishing free library systems. Mann also fought for teachers to receive higher salaries. (All information on Horace Mann was taken from www.cals.ncsu.edu.)
3. Record your initial, personal, reflective thoughts regarding the differences between the innovators and "makers."
· By studying the two terms and evaluating individuals from both categories, I see that innovators and makers have similar characteristics and are not just two opposite ends of a pole.
· Both an innovator and maker of education must be passionate, courageous, well-informed, flexible, and not afraid to make a difference in the lives of others.
4. Briefly discuss why you selected the innovator and "maker" and how you feel they have influenced education today.
· I chose Linda Thompson because she was a very courageous soul fighting the battle of segregation in such a drastic time period.
· Horace Mann was chosen because he worked for educators in finding the first school to train teachers and fought for higher teacher salaries. I feel like he understands the importance of providing good conditions and benefits for educators.