This practice certainly left some students without specific representation in an era when sectarian clashes were commonplace. Furthermore, Mann's new system of central school board control over books and appropriate instructional materials took local decision-making power and commandeered it, bringing with it the power of local influence into the arena of formal education. This was perhaps the most extreme measure against democratic procedure and social mobility, and was later considered an attempt to hinder fundamental social freedoms. “We also oppose the school board sanction because it is an approach to press censorship.” (Brownson, O. 1840). Censorship in schools showed students nationwide only what the centralized board deemed appropriate, yet this method was not practical locally, either socially or economically.