[MrChips]

The Founders? As I understand it, the first support for “public” education was in the form of a voucher.

[LS]

Well, I've done the research. To a man, they all supported what they called "public schools," as opposed to "private schools" (i.e., clerical schools). Many, including Benjamin Rush, favored taxpayer-funded schools, and said if people won't fund this, they won't fund anything.

Now, WHAT they expected to be taught is a different matter, but it is inarguable that they all favored government-funded schools. I wish the conclusion was different, but that's the evidence: Washington, Madison, Rush, Webster, Adams, etc.