Who Invented School? | The Sun

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MILLIONS of students have returned to schools following Coronavirus lockdowns.

The earliest form of school dates back to the 4th century when church leaders took on the role of educators.

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The very first schools were operated by the church until grammar schools emergedCredit: Alamy

Who invented school?

St Augustine is widely believed to have started Britain’s first school in AD 597 when he founded King’s School in Canterbury.

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He went on to invent two kinds of grammar schools; one to teach Latin to priests, while the others were ‘song schools’ for cathedral choir boys.

Schooling was predominantly done through the church and was only available for boys aged 11 to 14.

However, over the next 1,000 years “free grammar schools” emerged which were outside of church control and taught a wider base of subjects.

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Schooling for children who were not from the upper classes came about following the Industrial Revolution in 1750, with seven to 11 year-olds taught basic numeracy and literacy.

But it was the 1890s and early 1900s when school became more broadly available for children regardless of their background.

The legal school leaving age rose from 11 in 1893 to 14 in 1921.

The Education Act of 1918 made school compulsory for children aged five to 14 and in 1929 Poor Law schools became state-funded elementary schools.

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The 1944 Butler Act made state education free for all children the leaving age was raised to 15, going up to 16 in the 1970s.

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In 1951 the O and A Levels were first used to test older pupils.

GCSE courses replaced O Levels in 1986 and the leaving age rose again in 2015 to 18.

Why does school exist?

Albert Einstein famously said: “Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned at school.”

Arguably, modern-day educators certainly strive to prove the great man wrong, or at least to equip pupils with education through learning.

Free state education for all was brought into law in 1944Credit: Alamy
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Schools have existed for numerous reasons throughout history, from churches aiming to educate and control their flock to wealthy parents wanting to give their children an edge.

Most countries around the world invented schools in order to help the next generation participate in society.

By passing on skills of technology and science, nations are able to adapt and, ultimately, get richer and more powerful.

Who was Horace Mann?

Horace Mann (1796-1859) is considered to be the first American educator and father of US schooling.

He pursued a law career until he was elected as Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education where he pioneered huge reforms of schools.

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Mann’s six-point manifesto fought for public schools in America:

  • Americans could not consider themselves free if they were ignorant
  • Education should be government-funded
  • Schools should embrace children from all ethnic, social and religious backgrounds
  • Education should be free of religious influence
  • Lessons should be taught against a background of a free society
  • Teachers must be well-trained

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Mann’s six-point plan was met with huge resistance, but eventually, he prevailed, with his vision providing the foundation for the schooling system in America which is still in existence today.

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