Perhaps it was his own lack of adequate schooling that inspired Horace Mann to work so hard to accomplish the important reforms in education. While he was still a boy, his father died, and he had to support his family. Like most of the children in his town, he attended school two or three months a year. Later, with the help of several teachers, he was able to study law and become a member of the Massachusetts bar, but he never forgot those early struggles. While serving in the Massachusetts legislature, he signed a historic education bill that set up a state board of education. Without regret, he gave up his successful legal practice to become the first secretary of the board. There he exercised an enormous influence during the critical period of reconstruction that brought into existence the American graded elementary school as a substitute for the older district school system. Under his leadership, the curriculum was restructured, the school year was increased to a minimum of six months, and mandatory schooling was extended to age sixteen. Other important reforms that came into existence under Mann’’s guidance included the establishment of state normal schools for teacher training. Considered quite radical at the time, the Massachusetts reforms later served as a model for the nation’’s educational system. Mann was formally recognized as the father of public education. During his lifetime, Horace Mann worked tirelessly to extend educational opportunities to agrarian families and the children of poor laborers. In one of his last speeches he summed up his philosophy of education and life: " Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity. " Why does the author mention Horace Mann’’s early life

As an example to show the importance of education.
B. To make the biography more complete.
C. Because it served as the inspiration for his later work in education.
D. In appreciation of the teachers who helped him succeed.