Three Early Champions of Education: Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Rush, and Noah Webster.

Overview & Synopsis

Franklin as a stateman, Rush as a physician, and Webster as a linguist and political commentator believed in a "general diffusion of knowledge" and wrote liberally on education. They sincerely believed in education as a civilizing agent, so all three helped found schools and colleges. Franklin's interests were educational philosophy; starting an academy school (vocational-technological); language; and female, black, and adult education. Rush was concerned with educational and political aims, elementary instruction, discipline, education of females and blacks, medical education, and higher education. Webster influenced educational aims, religious and moral education, female education, teaching, and the Americanization of English. Much of what they fought for is in effect today. (Author/ND)