Under Horace Mann, children aged 4-16 spent more days in school. Reformers concentrated their efforts on this group. Thus, although there was an overall decline in school attendance, 1820-60, economic historians need to consider quality as well as quantity in assessing the economic productivity of education. (Author/WM)

Utilizing extensive individual-level data files to examine antebellum school attendance in Newburyport (Massachusetts), a procedure was devised to estimate school attendance in Essex County (Massachusetts), during the period 1860-61. Concludes that a substantial minority of antebellum youth attended high school in Massachusetts communities. (SLM)

This study provides a historical setting for the current interest in preschool education by examining the assumptions and efforts of educators and politicians involved in establishing preschool programs in Boston during the 1830's. Parallels are drawn between the early education experiments detailed here and those undertaken recently, in order to…

Focusing on Massachusetts as a case study, this research relates 19th century schooling patterns to social change. Indices of social change included schooling differences in rural and urban areas, industrial and economic development, school community relationship, and family life. The document contains 10 chapters; each chapter is based on both…