Here’s a few examples:

The military logic of Prussia.

Prussia’s defeat to the hands of Napoleon called for the nationalisation of the school system. Obedient soldiers, not independent thinkers, was the national policy.

The spirit of the industrial revolution.

The new economy of factories required a populace capable of obeying orders and the ringing of bells, adhering to detailed time schedules, and working the machines. Entrepreneurial individuals, however, were antithetical to the new program.

Perpetuation of the British class system.

Initially the British aristocracy disliked the idea of democratising education. Well-read individuals might disturb the social order. But that began to change as the Anglican priest Andrew Bell brought back ideas from India on how to maintain the Caste System. It’s also noteworthy that the industrial revolution began here in Britain - nothing of small import.

The demands of the modern corporate economy.

Mass-production and large-scale investments need guaranteed markets. They also require a horde of viable employees (not to be mistaken with independent business owners) and reliable consumers. Is it any wonder that the early industrial magnates played a large role in the formation of compulsory education?

The harsh reality is that a real education was never on offer through our school systems. Continue reading to uncover more of this vital story because you can triumph over the forces desiring you to be a mere economic function.