A Brief History of Free Education

A Brief History of Free Education

How Has Public Education Changed from Antiquity to Today?

From Socrates publicly questioning the citizens of ancient Athens to Massive Open Online Courses connecting students from around the world, free education has gone through a revolution — or several! Over the last 5,000 years, public schooling has transformed from its humble origins to the transformative force it has become today.

TIMELINE

Antiquity (3000 BCE to 400 CE) ⁽¹⁾

While access to education in the ancient world was limited to male priests and bureaucrats, it was traditionally delivered from one generation to the next without cost, as a sort of primitive “professional development.” ⁽²⁾

Ancient Civilizations

1. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/cultures-religions-ap-arthistory/a/a-brief-history-of-western-culture

2. https://www.britannica.com/topic/education/Education-in-classical-cultures

The Middle Ages (400 to 1400 CE) ⁽¹⁾

As Christianity took hold in Europe and Islam in the Middle East, religious institutions grew into the world’s first universities. These continued to solely serve the clergy and civil servants, without charge. ⁽²⁾

World’s Oldest Universities ⁽³⁾

The University of Al-Karaouine is named the “oldest existing and continually operating educational institution in the world” by Guinness World Records

1. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/cultures-religions-ap-arthistory/a/a-brief-history-of-western-culture

2. https://www.britannica.com/topic/education/Education-in-classical-cultures

3. https://theculturetrip.com/europe/italy/articles/the-12-oldest-universities-in-the-world/

The Renaissance (1400 to 1600 CE) ⁽¹⁾

The rediscovery of ancient texts during the Renaissance reoriented education to focus on Latin, mathematics, and the sciences. Monks continued to teach themselves and the upper classes received instruction from private tutors, while the rest of society received no instruction at all. ⁽⁴⁾

Texts of Renaissance Education

1. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/cultures-religions-ap-arthistory/a/a-brief-history-of-western-culture

4. https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/education-in-the-renaissance/

The Early Modern Era (1600 to 1800 CE) ⁽¹⁾

From the 17th to 19th centuries, the upper classes continued to pursue their education via private tutors but also began to attend newly established private schools and academies, as well as universities. The middle and lower classes were also being educated for free by the state or the church for the first time — albeit not to any significant degree in the imperial colonies. ⁽²⁾

Colonial Empires ⁽⁵⁾

1. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/cultures-religions-ap-arthistory/a/a-brief-history-of-western-culture

2. https://www.britannica.com/topic/education/Education-in-classical-cultures

5. https://history.duke.edu/research/colonial-empire-and-colonialism

The Industrial Age (1800 to 1970 CE) ⁽²⁾

Industrialization had competing effects on learning, both necessitating a better-educated workforce and compelling children to work rather than study. The former won out, with child labor being outlawed and widespread public education being introduced. ⁽²⁾

Child Labor in the US ⁽⁶⁾

1870: 1 in 8 children working

1900: 1 in 5 children working

1910: 1 in 4 children working

1938: Child labor barred by the Fair Labor Standards Act

School Enrollment Among 5 and 6-Year-Olds in the US ⁽⁷⁾

1. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/cultures-religions-ap-arthistory/a/a-brief-history-of-western-culture

2. https://www.britannica.com/topic/education/Education-in-classical-cultures

2. https://www.britannica.com/event/Industrial-Revolution

6. https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2017/article/history-of-child-labor-in-the-united-states-part-1.htm

6. https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2017/article/history-of-child-labor-in-the-united-states-part-2-the-reform-movement.htm

7. https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/school-enrollment/cps-historical-time-series.html

The Information Age (1970 to Today) ⁽⁸⁾

The development of computers and especially the Internet ushered in a wave of online education. ⁽⁹⁾

US Undergrads Taking Online Classes ⁽⁹⁾

8. https://www.sciencehistory.org/time-period/information-age-1970-present

9. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d18/tables/dt18_311.22.asp               

To learn more about free online colleges and degree programs, visit: onlinecollegeplan.com/free-online-degree-programs

SOURCES

1. https://www.khanacademy.org/
2. https://www.britannica.com/
3. https://www.theculturetrip.com/
4. https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/
5. https://www.duke.edu/
6. https://www.bls.gov/
7. https://www.census.gov/
8. https://www.sciencehistory.org/
9. https://www.ed.gov/