Mr. Lancaster's System

The Failed Reform That Created America's Public Schools

By: Adam Laats

Narrated by: Gary Roelofs

Two centuries ago, London school reformer Joseph Lancaster swept into New York City to revolutionize its public schools. In Mr. Lancaster's System, Adam Laats tells the story of how this abusive, scheming reformer fooled the world into believing his system could provide free high-quality education for poor children. The system never worked as promised, but thanks to real work done by students, teachers, and families, Lancaster's failed reforms eventually led to the creation of the modern public school system.

Lancaster's idea was simple: instead of hiring expensive adult teachers, Lancasterian schools made children teach one another to read, write, and behave properly. America's city leaders poured the equivalent of millions of dollars into the scheme, built specialized school buildings featuring Lancaster's teaching machines, and offered him a huge salary. In London, where Lancaster opened his first school, the enthusiasm of city leaders was quickly and similarly followed by scandal and dismay. Even worse, Lancaster proved to be a sexual predator. Kicked out of London, Lancaster brought his simplistic plan to the United States. His school model didn't work any better in US cities than it had in London, and Lancaster himself never changed his abusive ways.

The book is published by Johns Hopkins University Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

©2024 Johns Hopkins University Press (P)2024 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Colorful, easy-to-swallow account of America's original education reform huckster." (Benjamin Justice, coauthor of Have a Little Faith)

"Captivating, landmark study." (William Reese, author of America's Public Schools)

"An astonishingly original and compelling origin story for modern urban public school systems." (Mark Boonshoft, author of Aristocratic Education and the Making of the American Republic)

The Perfect School Plan That Wasn't

A fascinating look at the flawed origins of the American school system. This book functions like a recorded doctrinal thesis, tracing how Joseph Lancaster's ego-driven ideas became a national model despite not actually working. Lancaster comes across as quite the villain here. If you love deep-dive historical research into the people history often forgets, this is a must-listen.