1. 1642 Act Concerning Education: Responsibilities of Families and Masters
2. 1647 Act Concerning Education: Old Satan Deluder
3. 1676 Act Concerning Springfield losses in King Phililp's War
4. 1700 Huguenot Petition in Boston re settlement of Oxford
5. 1780, Massachusetts Constitution, on the Encouragement of Literature and Literacy
6. 1827 Act Concerning the Instruction of Youth
7. 1838 Act Concerning Schools
8. 1838 Act Concerning Qualifying Teachers for Common Schools
9. 1848 Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments
10. 1850 Resolves Concerning use of Noah Webster Textbook
11. 1851 Public Libraries Bill, House version
12. 1852 Act re. Compulsory Education
13. 1867 Act Concerning Common Schools
14. 1917 Act Concerning Vocational Education
15. 1965 Act Concerning Educational Facilities, Racial Imbalance,
16. 1992-93, Educational Reform Bill, House version, final law, Chapter 71, Acts 1993; Cornerstones of Education Reform, Department of Education
It is therefore ordred yt evry towneship in this jurisdiction,
aftr ye Lord hath increased ym to ye number of 50 householdrs,
shall then forthwth appoint one wthin their towne to teach all
such children as shall resort to him to write & reade, whose
wages whall be paid eithr by ye parents or mastrs of such children,
or by ye inhabitants in genrall, by way of supply, as ye maior
pt of those yt ordr ye prudentials of ye towne shall appoint;
pvided, those yt send their children be not oppressed by paying
much more ytn they can have tm taught for in othr townes; &
it is furthr ordered, yt where any towne shall increase to ye
numbr of 100 families or househouldrs, they shall set up a gramer
schoole, ye mr thereof being able to instruct youth so farr as
they may be fited for ye university, pvided, yt if any towne neglect
ye pformance hereof above one yeare, yt every such towne shall
pay 5 l to ye next schoole till they shall pforme this order.
Records of the General Court of Massachusetts Bay,
11 November l647
It being one cheife piect of ye ould deluder, Satan, to keepe
men from the knowledge of ye Scriptures, as in formr times by
keeping ym in an unknowne tongue, so in these lattr times by pswading
from ye use of tongues, yt so at least ye true sence & meaning
of ye originall might be clouded by false glosses of saint seeming
deceivers, yt learning may not be buried in ye grave of or fathrs
in ye church & comonwealth, the Lord assisting or endeavors,---
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Chapter V., Section II.
THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF LITERATURE & C.
WISDOM, and knowledge, as well as virtue, diffused generally among
the body of the people, being necessary for the preservation of
their rights and liberties; and as these depend on spreading the
opportunities and advantages of education in the various parts
of the country, and among the different orders of the people,
it shall be the duty of Legislatures and Magistrates, in all future
periods of this Commonwealth, to cherish the interests of literature
and the sciences, and all seminaries of them; especially the university
at Cambridge, public schools and grammar schools in the towns;
to encourage private societies and public institutions, rewards
and immunities, for the promotion of agriculture, arts, sciences,
commerce, trades, manufactures, and a natural history of the country;
to countenance and inculcate the principles of humanity and general
benevolence, public and private charity, industry and frugality,
honesty and punctuality in their dealings; sincerity, good humour,
and all social affections, and general sentiments among the people.
---