They were always a tool to suppress individualism and ensure conformist thought. The Prussian model.
I never could cooperate. Study, think, sure. But on my terms, the subjects that intrested ME.
Pre Public education, Education was based in either the family (home schooling) or the church. This resulted in education that was parochial and fostered inequality. A Catholic School, Lutheran School, etc produced kids who were motivated in the economy to prove that their school was better than the competition. And the poor kid whose parents didn’t care lost out.
We changed from “born equal” to “opportunity to graduate equal”