John Swett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Swett
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| 4th California State Superintendent of Public Instruction | |
| In office January 2, 1863 – December 2, 1867 |
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| Governor | Leland Stanford Frederick Low |
| Preceded by | Andrew J. Moulder |
| Succeeded by | Oscar Penn Fitzgerald |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 31, 1830 Pittsfield, New Hampshire |
| Died | August 22, 1913 (aged 83) Alhambra Valley, CA |
| Political party | National Union Party(Republican) |
| Spouse | Mary Louise Tracy (b. Dec 8, 1839, Thompson Ct - ?) |
| Children | Emelie Tracy Y. Swett Parkhurst (Mar 9, 1863), William Russell Swett (Oct 1, 1868), Frank Tracy Swett (Nov 22, 1869), Walter Harper Swett (July 20, 1870), Helen Swett (Apr 7, 1875), and John French Swett (Aug 1, 1879) |
| Parents | Lucretia (née French) Swett, Eben Swett |
| Profession | Politician, Teacher, Principal |
John Swett (July 31, 1830 – August 22, 1913) is known as the "Father of the California public school system." He was a very important person in making schools in California free for everyone. People also called him the "Horace Mann of the Pacific," comparing him to another famous American educator.
Contents
John Swett's Life Story
John Swett was born on July 31, 1830, in Pittsfield, New Hampshire. He was the only child of Lucretia and Ebenezer Swett. He passed away on August 22, 1913, in Alhambra Valley, California, near Martinez, California.
In 1862, John Swett married Mary Louise Tracy in Sonoma, California. They had six children together. He was also a close friend of John Muir, who helped start the Sierra Club.
Early Career in California
John Swett came to California in 1853. He first tried to mine for gold. However, he soon decided to become a teacher in San Francisco.
In 1863, he helped create the California Educational Society. This group later became the California Teachers Association. Today, it is the largest teachers' union in California.
Becoming a State Leader
During the American Civil War, in 1863, John Swett ran for a big job. He was a candidate for the National Union Party, which was linked to the Republican Party. He won the election and became the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction. This meant he was in charge of all public schools in California. He served in this role until 1867.
After this, he held other important positions in San Francisco schools. He was a Deputy Superintendent from 1870 to 1873. He also worked as a Principal at the Denman School (1873–1876) and Girls High School (San Francisco) (1876–1889).
In 1890, he was again elected as the superintendent of the San Francisco Public Schools. He retired in 1895 to his ranch, called Hill Girt Ranch.
Making Schools Free in California
John Swett's biggest achievement was making California's public schools free for all students. Before him, many schools used "rate-bills." This meant parents had to pay a fee for their children to attend.
In his report from 1866–67, he proudly announced a big change. He said that for the first time, every public school in California was completely free. This was a huge step towards making education available to every child.
Ideas About Education
John Swett had strong beliefs about how schools should be run. He thought that teachers and school leaders should have a lot of control. He believed that parents did not have the legal right to tell teachers what to do.
He also had a famous idea about children and the state. In his 1876 book, History of the Public School Systems of California, he wrote something interesting. He said that once children become mature, they belong to the state or society, not just to their parents. This idea showed his belief that education was very important for the future of the state.
Honoring John Swett
John Swett's work had a lasting impact. Many things are named after him to honor his contributions:
- The California Teachers Association gives out the John Swett Award for Media Excellence every year.
- John Swett High School is located in Crockett, California.
- John Swett Elementary School is in Martinez, California.
- The John Swett Unified School District serves schools in Contra Costa County, California.
When John Swett passed away on August 22, 1913, nearly every school in California closed. This was a way to show respect for the man who did so much for public education.
Writings and Collections
John Swett's important papers are kept at the Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley. These papers include his writings and letters from 1853 to 1913. You can find more information about them online: Guide to the John Swett Papers, 1853-1913.
The papers of his wife's family, the Tracy family, are also at the Bancroft Library. They cover the years from about 1800 to 1888: Tracy family papers (ca. 1800-1888).
