Random Tuesday Afternoon Ruminations

A little bit history for my fellow U. S. history nerds on this Random Tuesday Afternoon Rumination.
Question of the education system as uniform Nationwide vs. local private?

This my first weekly attempt please let me know what you think. I've randomly decided this is issue #1 of 5...

Once more down the rabbit hole: starting with the history of the Pledge of Allegiance and consuming much time I find myself 3 days later with a lot more questions than when I began… Grrrr... I don't know about the rest of you but I like finding rabbit wholes like this one.
Here are some quotes.
Washington, “promote… institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened.” (Washington’s Farewell Address of 1796)*1

Did not go his way during his lifetime, and the story is fascinating. I will link the article I liked best during my research.

Dr. Benjamin Rush, “Our schools of learning, by producing one general and uniform system of education, will render the mass of the people more homogeneous and thereby fit them more easily for uniform and peaceable government.” (In his 1786 piece Thoughts Upon the Mode of Education Proper in a Republic

Rush was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and a member of the Continental Congress.

Horace Mann is the main protagonist in this weeks rabbit hole adventure. I can't recommend a better way to spend 10min on this Random Tuesday afternoon. lol
Thank you
1/5
By Terry Nicknig
http://ushistoryscene.com/article/rise-of-public-education/