Compulsory education refers to a period of education that is required to be completed by every person. Thus, one may observe that there is some minimum education that should be accomplished. Nowadays, there are compulsory educations requirements all over the United States. However, it was not a case in past times. This paper is an attempt to briefly describe a history of compulsory education.
Colonial period
In 1642 the Massachusetts Bay Colony passed law entitling the selectmen from each town to “to take account from time to time of all parents and masters, and their children concerning their calling and employment of their children, especially of their ability to read and understand principles of religion and capital laws of this country” (Unger 291). Several years later, the state enacted so called “Old Deluder Satan Act” which required each town with fifty or more households to establish a petty school in order “to protect children against “the fiery darts of Satan”” (Unger 291). Moreover, the law mandated establishing Latin Grammar schools in towns with hundred families. Thus, one may observe that Massachusetts has very old traditions of compulsory education.
However, not only Massachusetts but also Connecticut has old compulsory education traditions. In 1650 the state enacted the law requiring that children and servants should be taught to read in English (Unger 291). The laws also provided that they had to be catechized, learn profitable trade or husbandry (Unger 291). In 1655 New Heaven passed the similar law (Unger 291). Ten years later New York followed the New Heaven’s example (Unger 291). In 1683 Pennsylvania mandated all parents and guardians of children to be instructed in reading, writing, trade or skill (Unger 291). Virginia required parents and masters to send their children and servants to church to learn religion and reading (Unger 291).
Independence period
Shortly after the revolutionary war the compulsory education almost disappeared in the United States. The point is that parents needed help of their children to work in field or contribute to family wealth in some other way. In such conditions the governments were not ready to change economic order by forcing children to attend schools. However, in 1852 Massachusetts enacted mandatory school attendance laws (ncsl.org). According to the law, all children between eight and fourteen were obliged to attend school at least thirteen weeks per year (Rothbard 41). Six of these thirteen weeks had to be consecutive («stateuniversity.com»). In fact Massachusetts became the first state which implemented compulsory education (ncsl.org). In the course of time Massachusetts continued to expand compulsory education requirements. Thus, in 1862 the school age was extended between ages seven and sixteen (Rothbard 41). Furthermore, in 1866 school attendance became mandatory for six months per year (Rothbard 41). One may observe that Massachusetts can be considered as a pioneer of compulsory education in the United States.
At the same time, the nineteenth century was marked by expansion of public schools. The growth of public education was especially evident during the nation’s westwards expansion. Many states …