Education In America
...384-322 B.C.
Background
"In order to fully understand how America's schools got off track, it is important to evaluate the road they've traveled. In the early days of American education, the three "Rs' of learning were often accompanied by a fourth: Religion. Religion was the backbone of the school system. And, interestingly enough, there was no conflict between church and state, because the state was not involved in the schools. In fact, government funded schools such as those we have today were virtually unheard of until the 1840's. Schools were market-driven, so parents were free to decide what kind of education best suited their child (Who Will Teach The Children?)."
The result of this academically focused curriculum resulted in an educated and independent populace, which ultimately led America to greatness.
"Americas greatness [has traditionally] stemmed from three unique factors:
1. The Bill of Rights, which managed to keep the U.S. government relatively small for its first hundred years.
2. A respect for voluntary association, allowing each individual to make his own decisions rather than allowing politicians to force their beliefs and tastes upon the individual.
3. The free market, which brought us the greatest prosperity the world has ever known.
Unfortunately, all three of these factors have been diminished greatly over the
past hundred years or so. Today, America is coasting on its past success and offers nothing that can't be found in many countries of the world (Browne 7)."
How did this happen?
Although there have been many factors that have "contributed to America's decline [the] most important by far is government schooling (Browne 7)."
"In 1818, the real push for public education began. And it all started in Boston, Massachusetts, when a committee found that 90 percent of the city's children attended school, public...
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