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In reading this article by Christopher Curran, while I did agree with some of his concerns, had I not known better, I would have believed that, prior to the founding of tax-supported public education in this country, most youngsters were totally illiterate and, therefore, public schools were a dire necessity. Actually such was not the case and there were educational opportunities for those that wished to take advantage of them.

The late author and educator, Samuel Blumenfeld, in his book "Is Public Education Necessary?" noted that, from 1789 to 1835, there were no compulsory attendance laws regarding public schools anywhere in the country and yet this did not prevent those who wanted an education for their children from getting it. Blumenfeld noted home schooling, private academies and church schools, but he also noted that "virtually every large city in the country had its 'free school' societies that built and operated schools for the poor and were supported by the community's leading benefactors and philanthropists. Such schools were considered extremely worthwhile causes for philanthropy. Often these schools received small grants from local governments in recognition of their public service. Thus there was no need for any child to go without an education. The rate of literacy in the United States then was probably higher than it is today."

Blumenfeld noted that, even in New England, the concept of public schools was falling out of favor for several reasons and that, only in Boston, was their "unflagging support" for the concept of public education, and that was due to the growth of the Unitarian movement in that city. The Unitarians favored public education because they had a major problem with church schools (Christian education).

What many don't tell you about Horace Mann and his strong support for public schools and his "vision" for public education was that Horace Mann was a Unitarian and his support for public schools was, in fact, support for his Unitarian theology which was much at odds with orthodox Christian theology. The public schools of our day do, indeed, fulfill Man's "vision"--anything remotely Christian has been thoroughly banished from them and they, in effect, teach Unitarian theology, presenting it as pluralism and diversity.