Public schools

Unbeknownst to some, one of the main reasons for public schools was assimilation. This is especially true in the United States. Advocates of public schools wanted to create a homogenized public who shared the same values and the "American way". This movement became especially important when there was a large influx of Irish and German immigrants. They were concerned that these Irish Catholics and Germans could not assimilate into American Protestant culture.

In Oregon, the governor went so far as to try to ban parochial (Catholic) schools altogether. Fortunately, this case went to the Supreme Court where they ruled it was unconstitutional.