As many European countries were establishing national education systems in the late 19th century, legislators in the United States failed to pass at least 20 different bills that would have done the same.
In a new podcast, Nancy Beadie, a professor of education history at the University of Washington College of Education, discussed the divergent paths taken by the U.S. and most European nations, the lingering repercussions for the U.S. educational system and more.