1880 Rutherford B. Hayes - Free Popular Education

In the 19th century, children were educated in an assortment of institutions and arrangements mostly supported by local entities. Very little funding came from the federal government. Today this is still mostly true. In fact today, only 13% of elementary and secondary level education is funded by the federal government.  In 1880, Rutherford B. Hayes was concerned about the lack of education within and available to the black communities. For years, their education had been neglected or prevented, in the interest of slavery. So, the president in his last annual address to congress urged congress and America to take a vested interest in the "popular education of the people of the whole country". President Hayes asked that "whatever government can fairly do to promote popular education out to be done".

Here are his full words, as they were addressed to congress in 1880 ...

"It is not, however, to be forgotten that the best and surest guaranty of the primary rights of citizenship is to be found in that capacity for self-protection which can belong only to a people whose right to universal suffrage is supported by universal education. The means at the command of the local and State authorities are in many cases wholly inadequate to furnish free instruction to all who need it. This is especially true where before emancipation the education of the people was neglected or prevented, in the interest of slavery. Firmly convinced that the subject of popular education deserves the earnest attention of the people of the whole country, with a view to wise and comprehensive action by the Government of the United States, I respectfully recommend that Congress, by suitable legislation and with proper safeguards, supplement the local educational funds in the several States where the grave duties and responsibilities of citizenship have been devolved on uneducated people by devoting to the purpose grants of the public lands and, if necessary, by appropriations from the Treasury of the United States. Whatever Government can fairly do to promote free popular education ought to be done. Wherever general education is found, peace, virtue, and social order prevail and civil and religious liberty are secure."

 
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29521
http://lwv.org/content/role-federal-government-public-education -historical-perspectives