The Massachusetts System of Common Schools

First published in 1837, this influential report laid the foundation for the modern American school system. Its recommendations for the establishment of free, mandatory education for all children, supported by state funding, helped to revolutionize education in the United States and set a model that was eventually adopted in many other countries. This edition includes the original text along with a new introduction that provides historical context and reflects on the ongoing relevance of the report's ideas.

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