Towards a compulsory education act

Abstract

Compulsory Education features in all European Educational systems, but this was long resisted by most states until they found out that by merely setting up schools they could attain neither universal education, nor general literacy. It is true that due to the recognition of the need for education in modern life some degree of increased attendance and greater regularity of attendance was attained but the target of universal schooling could only be achieved by enacting compulsory attendance legislation. Although the Christian Church had been active in the field of education for many centuries, it was only after the Lutheran schism, that the question of school attendance and compulsory education was taken up, and this by the dissenters. In fact, when in the sixteenth century, Martin Luther set up his Church, he recommended· compulsory school attendance and, in his writings, suggested that the state should pass such legislation and enforce it. So it is no wonder that the first state to enact such legislation was the German Lutheran dominated state of Weimar in Saxony. This legislation required all children between the ages of six and twelve to attend school the full year. except in the harvest month when they were required to work in the fields [...].