Ever wondered who to thank (or blame!) for school? The answer isn't a single person, but rather a gradual evolution. While formal education existed long before, Horace Mann is often credited as the "father of American education." In the mid-19th century, he championed universal, free, and non-sectarian public schools. Mann advocated for structured curricula and teacher training, laying the groundwork for the modern school system we know today.
However, the concept of organized learning dates back much further. Ancient civilizations like Egypt, Greece, and China had systems for educating their elite, often focused on philosophy, rhetoric, and mathematics. These weren't schools in the modern sense, but rather private tutoring or academies. The idea of widespread, publicly funded education is a relatively recent development, shaped by industrialization and the need for a literate workforce. So, while Mann advanced public education, remember that learning institutions have a rich and complex history spanning millennia.
