John D. Pierce, founder of the Michigan school system

Pierce was Michigan’s first Superintendent of Public Instruction. The authors write in the Preface that, “What Mr. Pierce did to establish our school system marks an epoch in the civilization and culture of the Northwest…” The book is divided into two parts. Part One was intended, “…to offer some preliminary observations concerning our national and local educational inheritances, as well as to sketch briefly the course of Michigan history up to the close of the Territorial days.” Part Two was, “…given up to Mr. Pierce and his labors.”

Chapter headings are:

Part 1 – Origins
-America’s Educational Inheritance
-Sketch of Early Michigan History
-Culture Conditions in Territorial Days
-Two Direct Sources of the Michigan School System

Part 2 – John D. Pierce: Founder of the Michigan School System
-Early Years in New England
-First Years in the Ministry
-With the Pioneers in Michigan
-Superintendent of Public Instruction
-Mr. Pierce’s Educational Doctrine – the Individual and the State
-The Meaning and Aim of Education
-Educational Method
-Organized Education
-The Journal of Education
-Mr. Pierce’s Second Appearance in Public Life
-Last Years
-Quotations from Mr. Pierce’s Educational Writings
-Bibliography