Opinion
Education Letter to the Editor

Compulsory Schooling: Was Edison Right?

October 30, 2006 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

To the Editor:

Compulsory schooling until a diploma is earned or a student reaches the age of 21 is now getting a big push from the National Education Association (“NEA: Earn a Diploma or Stay in School Until Age 21,” Oct. 11, 2006). It’s the union’s response to the dropout crisis. Coincidentally, compulsory schooling to age 21 would require more teachers, meaning expanded membership, revenues, and clout for the NEA.

But consider the fate of this youngster, had compulsory attendance—even to age 14—been Michigan law in the 1850s:

He started school at age 8, but returned home in tears after three months; his teacher called him “addled.” His mother took over his education by reading with him.

At the age of 12, he persuaded his mother to let him apply for the post of newsboy on the Port Huron-to-Detroit train, which left at 7 a.m. and returned at 9:30 p.m., giving him a six-hour layover in Detroit, where he spent time in the library. He sold fruit and produce from Port Huron to Detroit and evening papers on the return trip.

Total formal classroom instruction: three months. Thomas Alva Edison was essentially unschooled, giving him a heck of a head start on his 1,000-plus patents. Abraham Lincoln got a similar start. He recounted attending “some schools, so-called,” but for less than a year altogether.

Could it be that both boys’ parents and their indifferent state governments were on to something?

Tom Shuford

Lenoir, N.C.

A version of this article appeared in the November 01, 2006 edition of Education Week as Compulsory Schooling: Was Edison Right?

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Reading & Literacy Webinar
The Future of the Science of Reading
Join us for a discussion on the future of the Science of Reading and how to support every student’s path to literacy.
Content provided by HMH
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
College & Workforce Readiness Webinar
From Classrooms to Careers: How Schools and Districts Can Prepare Students for a Changing Workforce
Real careers start in school. Learn how Alton High built student-centered, job-aligned pathways.
Content provided by TNTP
Student Well-Being Live Online Discussion A Seat at the Table: The Power of Emotion Regulation to Drive K-12 Academic Performance and Wellbeing
Wish you could handle emotions better? Learn practical strategies with researcher Marc Brackett and host Peter DeWitt.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Briefly Stated: July 16, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
5 min read
Education Follow Education Week’s K-12 Coverage on Bluesky
Education Week has joined the social media platform Bluesky.
1 min read
Illustration of Education Week and Bluesky logos.
F. Sheehan/Education Week
Education Quiz Who Qualifies to Receive the First-ever Federal School Voucher? Take the Quiz to Find Out
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Education Quiz Trump’s Surprise Freeze on School Funding—How Much Do You Know?
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read