How Was Education Established In America?

The media and scholars would have you believe that America was largely secular and practiced “separation of church and state.” However, what does the evidence show? In 1777, Congress ordered 20,000 Bibles to be distributed among the states, because “unless timely care be used to prevent it, we shall not have Bibles for our schools and families and for the public worship of God in our churches” [1]. In 1789, Congress approved the printing of the first English Bible for schools and citizens [2]. The Capital was used for religious services from 1795 to the late 1800s for numerous denominations [3]. The 1787 Northwest Ordinance was the first law that addressed education. The law stated, “Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged” [4]. 

David Barton from WallBuiders produced Four Centuries of American Education (DVD) on the influence of Christianity in public education. Here are some important facts revealed on the subject. Abraham Lincoln stated, “The philosophy of the schoolroom in one generation will be the philosophy of the government of the next.” Benjamin Rush signed the Declaration and served under three presidents including Jefferson, Adams, and Madison. He founded five colleges, was a professor, wrote textbooks, and was known as the “Father of Public Schools Under the Constitution.” He defended the use of the Bible in public schools and how it would reduce crime. Benjamin Franklin reprinted The New England Primer for students in Pennsylvania. He supported Christian principles in public education and founded schools for African-Americans. Franklin cofounded the University of Pennsylvania with the purpose of instructing in the Bible.  He stated, “History will afford frequent opportunities of showing the necessity of a public religion from its usefulness to the public and the advantage of a religious character among private persons… and the excellency of the Christian religion above all others, ancient or modern.” William H. McGuffy wrote the McGuffy Readers, which were written in the 1830’s, and 40’s with over 122 million copies sold for education. He was a university president and professor, and is known as “the Schoolmaster of the Nation.” The books included scriptures. Emma Willard was women’s education pioneer, championed academic education, and started women’s schools. She authored several textbooks with religious and moral lessons. Booker T. Washington was the most significant of black educators. He headed the Tuskegee Institute, started a Bible college, and incorporated the Bible in academics. Daniel Webster served three decades in the U.S. Congress, was Secretary of State for three presidents, and argued many cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. He defended the write for the Bible to be taught in schools. U.S. Supreme Court stated, “Why may not the Bible, and especially the New Testament, without note or comment, be read and taught as a Divine revelation in the school its general precepts expounded… and its glorious principles of morality inculcated?... Where can the purest principles of morality be learned so clearly or so perfectly as from the New Testament?” [5]. 

1. Barton, D. (2012). The Aitken Bible and Congress. Retrieved from, http://www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=112866 

2. Wall Builders (1782). Aitken Bible. http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=46 

3. Barton, D. (2005). Church in the U.S. Capital. Retrieved from, http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=90 

4. Northwest Ordinance (1787). An Ordinance for the government of the territory of the United States northwest of the river Ohio. Retrieved from, http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=8&page=transcript 

5. Barton, D. (2004). Four centuries of American education [DVD]. Aledo, TX: Wallbuilders. ISBN: Item # DVD 07