John D. Pierce VS. Horace Mann Mann
Henry Tappan VS Augustas Woodward
Who was the real founder of the University of Michigan? The true answer to the question is John D. Pierce because of his contribution to the Constitution of 1837, but both Henry Tappan and Augusta’s Woodward played a major part in the founding of the college for literature, arts, and science. In 1852, Tappan was elected as the first president of the University of Michigan. He focused a lot of scholarship and science and felt as if practical subjects weren't important. This would not be such a big deal if University of Michigan didn't hold its first meeting in 1837. It really wouldn't matter if in 1817 Augusta’s Woodward didn't draft a charter for an institution called Catholepistemiad or the University of Michigania.
Regarding the history of Education and the establishment of it in the United States, there has been a debate about whose plan actually was the frame work for Michigan's education. It is noted that Crary is responsible for laying the foundation, but Piece is recognized for organizing it Pierce made a trip to the East, attending education meetings as well as meetings with different associations for teachers. He wanted to see how other stats educational systems were run before he established Michigan’s. Horace Mann comes into the equation due to the fact that he, just like Crary and Pierce, took to the Prussian system of state controlled education. While on the board of Congress, Horace Mann had three major objectives;1) state collection of educational data, 2) state adaption of state approved libraries, and 3) state control over teacher preparation programs, or normal schools.
June 2, 1835 would be the day that Michigan became the first state in the Union to give that state control over educational; affairs; this is a result of Isaac Crary's plan on his educational provisions. In the constitution, section one states that the state gave power to the governor to appoint an enforcer over public education. Section two outlined the way funding will be distributed as well as land. The third section stated that school would be in session three months out of the year, and the fourth established public libraries. Finally, the fifth section gave the groundwork to finance public state universities. Due to the success of its plan for education, Crary became the first Michigander in the United States House of Representatives.
Issac Crary: The Father of Michigan's Education