Compulsory education

Compulsory education refers to a period of learning required by a government.

This requirement applies to all people within a specific jurisdiction. Students may attend a registered school or receive instruction at home. Most countries today have laws that mandate this schooling. Only four places, including Bhutan and Vatican City, do not have such laws. The goal is often to advance the education of all citizens. It can also help balance education between rural and urban areas. These laws aim to prevent students from leaving school due to family economic reasons.

Historically, the reasons for these laws have varied widely. At the start of the 20th century, many focused on physical skills. Governments wanted citizens who could contribute to the nation's strength. Education also helped immigrants adapt to new, unfamiliar societies. It taught ethics and social communication skills to teenagers. However, some governments used mass education for different motives. In nondemocracies, these laws were sometimes used to teach obedience. They aimed to instill respect for authority rather than just increasing knowledge.

In ancient times, compulsory education was tied to specific groups. It was not like the modern public school system. In Sparta, boys left home between ages 6 and 7. They attended military schools that were described as brutal training periods. Between ages 18 and 20, males had to pass tests in fitness and leadership. Failing these tests meant losing their citizenship and political rights. In Judea, the sage Joshua ben Gamla helped change education in the 1st century AD. He instituted formal schools and made education compulsory for children aged 6 to 8. The Aztec Triple Alliance in Mexico is also noted for a system of universal compulsory education.

Philosophical ideas helped shape how people thought about required learning. Plato popularized the concept in Western thought through his work, *The Republic*. He believed an ideal city needed individuals with an ideal education. These ideas grew during the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. The philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau also praised Plato's views on public education. During the Protestant Reformation, new laws appeared in Europe. Martin Luther argued that people should read the Bible for themselves. This led to the establishment of schools for both boys and girls. In 1592, the Duchy Palatine Zweibrücken became the first territory to require school for both genders.

Different nations developed their own unique methods of enforcement. Scotland became the first country with national compulsory education through various acts. They used local taxes to fund schools and fines to ensure participation. In the United States, the Plymouth Colony required parents to teach reading and writing. Later, the Massachusetts School Laws in the 1640s took the first formal steps toward state requirements. By 1852, Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to pass a universal public education law. This law allowed the government to fine parents or even apprentice children if they were unfit.

A modern model of schooling began in Prussia during the 1700s. In 1763, Frederick the Great introduced the *Generallandschulreglement*. This decree required girls and boys to be educated from age 5 to roughly 14. The curriculum included religion, singing, reading, and writing. It used a regulated set of state-provided textbooks. This Prussian model eventually spread to many other countries. It was adopted in places like Denmark-Norway, Sweden, Finland, and France. In France, the Jules Ferry Laws of the 1880s made primary education free and compulsory. These laws were later expanded to include older students.

The impact of these laws on the world is massive. Because of the rise in compulsory schooling, more people have received formal education recently than in all prior history.

In the United States, Mississippi was the last state to pass a compulsory law in 1918. Today, the relationship between education access and quality can vary. Some countries struggle to implement policies effectively. Others may have a disconnect between how many students attend and how much they actually learn. Despite these challenges, compulsory education remains a primary way that states regulate and support their populations.