Who Invented School?

School, as an organized system of education, evolved over time, but Horace Mann is credited with founding the modern public school system in the U.S. in the 19th century. Ancient civilizations like Egypt, Greece, and China also had early forms of schooling for elite children, focusing on literacy and governance.
 
No one person invented school. It started long ago in ancient places like Egypt and Greece. In modern times, Horace Mann helped create the public school system in the U.S., so he's often called the "father of modern schooling."
 
NameContribution
Horace Mann (USA)Known as the “Father of the Modern School System” — helped standardize public education in the 1830s.
Confucius (China)Created one of the earliest formal schools (~500 BCE).
Ancient Greeks & RomansDeveloped structured learning for elites (e.g., Plato’s Academy).
 
The concept of formal schooling dates back to ancient civilizations, but the modern school system is often attributed to Horace Mann, an American educator. In the 19th century, he advocated for free, public education for all children. Ancient schools existed in Egypt, Greece, and China long before Mann’s contributions.
 
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