Johann Georg Eccarius
Record of Karl Marx's speech
on national and governmental education

at the meeting of the General Council, August 10, 1869

The Bee-Hive.
Nr. 409, 14. August 1869

… Mr. Marx said that the question, as it had been treated at the late congresses,
was between national or private education, and national education had been
looked upon as identical with governmental. To prove that a very efficient system

of national education might be established without being governmental, he entered into particulars respecting America; but he was of opinion that attendance 5
at school should be compulsory, that no religion should be taught in national
schools, and that Government inspectors should be appointed to visit the schools
and see that the school authorities did their duty. All that was compulsory at
present in America was, that each township provided schools; taxation for
schools was compulsory, but the attendance of children was not. The Prussian 10
system of national education was only calculated to make good soldiers, not
citizens. ...

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