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Exactly which government operated school, in what township, and in which colony (they weren't yet states), in 1785? Considering Massachusetts was the first of all the states to develop tax-funded schools in Boston. True, they laid the foundation for such a system in 1780 when they began to draft their state constitution, but from then until 1818 there was no central authority in education. All of the schools were strictly local—financed and controlled by local committees who set their own standards, chose their own teachers, and selected their own textbooks.

I do see your point, however. And I will concede that it was overwhelmingly likely that at least some schools that received public funds of some sort maintained a religious curriculum. But I stand on the point that this was the driving force behind the push to make the school system public. It culminated in 1835, when Michigan was the first state to constitutionally prohibit the use of public funds "for the benefit of religious societies or theological seminaries."

So I guess it could be argued that it was the founder's disdain of the rampant religious permeation of the schools that led in desperation to the birth of what became our current secular public school system.

Class dismissed.

Exactly which government operated school, in what township, and in which colony (they weren't yet states), in 1785?

Did you read the link?

The ordinance was also significant for establishing a mechanism for funding public education. The sixteenth section in each township was reserved for the maintenance of public schools. Many modern schools today still are located in section sixteen of their respective townships, although a great many of them were sold to raise money for public education.

It culminated in 1835, when Michigan was the first state to constitutionally prohibit the use of public funds "for the benefit of religious societies or theological seminaries."

Are you saying that creationism wasn't being taught, prayers being said, and the Bible being read in Michigan public schools after 1835?