Public and private education in the United States. - II

June 14, 2010

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In 1852, due to educator Horace Mann egalitarian and humanitarian values, Massachusetts became the first state to have compulsory school attendance laws.

By 1918 all states required children to receive a compulsory and egalitarian education.

Since then schooling is compulsory for all children in the United States.

To satisfy the requirements of compulsory education children may be educated in public schools, state-certified &#&private schools&#&, or an approved &#&home school&#& program.

The ages range for obliged schooling attendance varies by state. In some states it begins from five to eight years old and it ends from fourteen to eighteen years old. Gradually an increasing number of states are requiring compulsory education until the age of 18.

It is generally admitted that where a State has undertaken to provide an opportunity for an education in its public schools, such an opportunity is a right which must be made available to all on equal terms.

Although education is primarily a State and local responsibility, in 1980 Congress established the Department of Education as a Cabinet level department of the United States government. Today, ED operates programs that touch on every area and level of education.

There are also independent schools, usually known as &#&private schools&#& which aren't administered and funding are not provided by federal, state or local governments. They usually receive their funding through tuition, fundraising, and partial government funding.

There are a great deal of &#&private schools&#& in the United States operated by religious institutions and organizations. They often simply add religious instruction to the courses provided by local public schools.

However, there are some differences. &#&Private schools&#& retain the right to select their students, and are not subject to as many state and federal regulations as public schools, but most of them tend to follow the spirit of the standards of learning required by the state concerning the content of courses in an attempt to provide a level of education equal to or better than that available in public schools.

In addition to this, &#&private schools&#& are more flexible in developing their curriculum and can create specialized programs for students.

Some &#&private schools&#& are boarding schools and many military academies are privately owned or operated as well.

In the United States &#&private schools&#& cover the whole gamut of educational activity, ranging from pre-school to tertiary level institutions.