This is a first draft by super-rallyer and public school Art Goddess Spike Dolomite Ward (spike@aieac.org). Suggest your edits in the Comments, wikepedia-style.
Note that 2008 is the 160th anniversary of California public schools!
o The Puritans and Congregationalists in New England colonies of the 1600s had religion-based schools. As more people came from different countries, they brought with them religions and languages from their native lands which weakened this system.
o Private schooling became the norm by the middle of the 18th century.
o After the Declaration of Independence, 14 states had their own constitutions, seven with provisions for education. Thomas Jefferson believed that education should be the responsibility of the government and should be separate from religion. Access should be available to all people regardless of social status. Prviate, religious and charitable schools dominated due to political challenges, immigration and economics. Educational systems were highly localized and available only to the wealthy.
o In the 1840’s, reformers set about changing the system so that education was equitable and accessible to all. Horace Mann and Henry Barnard led the reformers who argued that common schooling would create good citizens, unite soceity and prevent crime and poverty. As a result, the first free public elementary schools were available to all American children by the end of the 19th century. The first compulsory attendance laws were created in Massachusetts in 1852.
More to follow. . .
