First published in 1837, this influential report laid the foundation for the modern American school system. Its recommendations for the establishment of free, mandatory education for all children, supported by state funding, helped to revolutionize education in the United States and set a model that was eventually adopted in many other countries. This edition includes the original text along with a new introduction that provides historical context and reflects on the ongoing relevance of the report's ideas. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.