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In the United States, opting out of [[public school]]s is not new. When [[Thomas Edison]]'s public school teacher said he was "addled," Edison's mother took him out of public school and taught him at home.  

In the United States, opting out of [[public school]]s is not new. When [[Thomas Edison]]'s public school teacher said he was "addled," Edison's mother took him out of public school and taught him at home.  

Education at public school year-round from about ages 6 to 18 became common only in the 20th century due to compulsory education laws.  The first [[law]] requiring attendance at public school passed in [[Massachusetts]] in 1852; the second such law passed in [[Washington D.C.]] in 1864; and most states did not pass mandatory schooling laws until between 1870 and 1917.<ref>[http://www.ncsl.org/programs/educ/CompulsoryEd.htm Compulsory Education], National Conference of State Legislatures: "More than 150 years have passed since Horace Mann helped Massachusetts establish a statewide system of education that eventually led to the requirement that all children attend public school.  In 1852, Massachusetts became the first state to pass compulsory school attendance laws, and by 1918, all states required children to receive an education."</ref><ref>http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/kellmeyer/050428</ref>

Education at public school year-round from about ages 6 to 18 became common only in the 20th century due to [[compulsory education]] laws.  The first [[law]] requiring attendance at public school passed in [[Massachusetts]] in 1852; the second such law passed in [[Washington D.C.]] in 1864; and most states did not pass mandatory schooling laws until between 1870 and 1917.<ref>[http://www.ncsl.org/programs/educ/CompulsoryEd.htm Compulsory Education], National Conference of State Legislatures: "More than 150 years have passed since Horace Mann helped Massachusetts establish a statewide system of education that eventually led to the requirement that all children attend public school.  In 1852, Massachusetts became the first state to pass compulsory school attendance laws, and by 1918, all states required children to receive an education."</ref><ref>http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/kellmeyer/050428</ref>

But even under compulsory education laws in the late 1800s, the school year was only twelve to twenty weeks long.  Very few stayed in school from ages 6 to 18.  For example, by 1900, only 6% of Americans had graduated from a formal high school.  Moreover, these students did not learn basic skills like reading in school; they learned those at home.<ref>''id.''</ref>

But even under compulsory education laws in the late 1800s, the school year was only twelve to twenty weeks long.  Very few stayed in school from ages 6 to 18.  For example, by 1900, only 6% of Americans had graduated from a formal high school.  Moreover, these students did not learn basic skills like reading in school; they learned those at home.<ref>''id.''</ref>