Question

why were education reforms needed in the mid-1800s

Answer 1

it is necessary to have a education reform in mid 1800s in that period there is lot of superstitions or predictions so it makes difficult to leave women and minority. to decrease the superstitions knowledge is necessary people who are acknowledge this started education reforms.

Answer 2

The education reforms were needed in the mid-1800s because:

• Horace Mann 'The Father of American Public Schools' hoped that the education reform will increase the access to education for poor children.  
• The access to education will make the children good citizens and it would eradicate poverty.
• Horace Mann promoted "common schools" in which children of all ages and classes were taught. Later he introduced the age-grading system.
• The effort was taken for the education reform the state began to establish tax-supported public schools, the curriculum was changed, teachers were trained.

So, there were some of these educational reforms done to eradicate poverty, inequality, etc.