ABSTRACT
Sir William Blackstone in his book, Commentaries on the Laws of England, reminded his readers that ‘a parent conferred no considerable benefit on his child by bringing him into the world, if he afterwards entirely neglected his culture and education and suffered him to grow up like a mere beast to lead a life useless to others and shameful to himself. Writing at the end of the eighteenth century, he maintained that the enlightenment of the masses was vital to safeguard freedom and democracy. To achieve this he advocated compulsory schooling.
