The public school movement refers to the educational movement in the United States at the beginning of the19th century, with the aim of establishing public primary schools and implementing national primary education. In this movement, educators such as Horace Mann made great contributions, and Horace Mann was also known as "the father of American public schools".

(2) The thoughts of the representatives of the public education movement.

(1) On the Function and Purpose of Education

① The role of education

First of all, universal education through the establishment of free schools is an indispensable guarantee for the continued existence of the Republican government.

Secondly, education is an important tool to maintain the existing social stability.

Third, education is an important means to get people out of poverty.

② The purpose of education

Horace Mann believes that education should cultivate all kinds of workers needed by society.

(2) in terms of educational content

① Sports. Horace Mann emphasized the importance of a healthy body to personal, family and social happiness, and put forward that students should not only be taught health knowledge such as human physiology and fitness knowledge, but also be trained during the whole school age to make them abide by these laws and form firm habits.

2 intellectual education. In teaching subjects, horace mann attaches importance to practical subjects such as Chinese, physiology, history, geography and bookkeeping, and thinks that these subjects are useful for students' future life and should be taught by schools. In teaching methods, he advocates students to master knowledge actively.

③ Political education. The main content of political education is to teach students the national constitution and the American constitution, so as to lay a foundation for better performing the duties of citizens of the Republic in the future.

④ Moral education. Moral education is to let children develop perfect concepts and virtues and prevent crime. The main training method is to educate children early, and at the same time have experienced teachers and a good environment.

⑤ Religious education. In order to effectively promote the development of public schools and popularize education, horace mann has always opposed the control of schools and religious education by sects, but he is not opposed to religious education, and believes that religious education can cultivate good spirits.

(3) About normal education.

Horace Mann attaches great importance to teacher training as an important means to improve the quality of education in public schools. He advocated the establishment of "normal schools" to train future teachers. In addition to the subjects to be taught in public schools, there are teaching methods, psychology, philosophy, human physiology, hygiene and so on.

Horace Mann's thoughts on universal education and normal education have profoundly influenced the educational practice in the United States and even in the international scope, but his thoughts have limitations of class and times, such as beautifying the American political system and religious thoughts.