The Illinois School Law of 1855 provided for tax-supported local schools. Newton Bateman, secretary and traveling agent of the Illinois State Teachers Association organized in 1853, served as Civil War school superintendent and was responsible for including in the constitution of 1870 the section requiring the General Assembly to "provide a thorough and efficient system of free schools, whereby all children of this state may receive a good common education." The state's first compulsory attendance law was passed in 1883.

In the new tax-supported enterprise, pupils learned by rote the three R's plus geography. In the 1880s fear of radicals and anarchists inspired the addition of many civics courses. Students memorized the state and federal constitutions, but were left on their own to interpret them. And what was learned? "Facts, my dear sir, facts: names of capitals, rivers, cities, mountains, lakes, chief products of, countries bounded by." Spelling was important, and spelldown champions sneered at such challenges as "plithisic" and "assessable."

Teachers knew only slightly more than their pupils and were certified at week-long county superintendents' institutes. Salaries were low, lower for women than for men. According to one contemporary school board member, "A woman just ain't worth thirty dollars a month." And it was all carefully organized as witnessed by the following document, typical of the period.

"Rules and Regulations for the Government of the Public Schools in the City of Decatur:

1. All children between the ages of five and 21 years, who reside in the school district, have a right to the privilege of the public school.

2. No pupil shall be allowed to attend school, unless furnished with the textbooks and stationery, as required.

3. Any pupil who has been exposed to, or who is afflicted with, any contagious disease, shall not attend school until all danger of contagion is removed.

4. No pupil shall leave one school to attend another, without the written consent of the directors.

5. Regular and punctual attendance is required of every pupil; and for repeated absence or tardiness, say, for the space of four half days in two successive weeks, such pupil shall forfeit his or her seat, unless they shall present a written excuse from the parent or guardian, stating such absence to have been caused by sickness, or other unavoidable circumstances.

6. No pupil shall leave school before the hour of closing, without permission of the teacher.

8. Every pupil shall pay for all damages he or she may do to the school building or furniture, or the property of other pupils, and may be suspended until payment is made. Nor shall any pupil use or write profane or unchaste language in or about any of the school buildings, or in any manner deface the public school property.

9. All books, papers, periodicals, or novels, having no. connection with the school studies, are prohibited from being brought into the school.

10. Pupils are strictly forbidden to engage in play or sport, within the halls or rooms of the building, unless under the direction of their teacher; nor shall they enter the adjoining lots of citizens, or in any way injure or disturb their property.

11. All pupils shall promptly and respectfully obey their teachers.

12. In the morning the principals shall be at the school room 20 minutes, and other teachers and pupils 15 minutes, before the time of commencing school. In the afternoon, all teachers shall be in their respective places at the ringing of the bell, five minutes before the time of commencing school. The hours for commencing school shall be punctually at nine o'clock in the morning, and half-past one o'clock in the afternoon.

13. Teachers will be required to teach six hours in each day; and no recess or intermission shall be given for a larger time than 10 minutes.

14. Any scholar willfully violating any of the foregoing rules and regulations may be suspended by his or her teacher, until the next meeting of the directors.

15. Any person feeling aggrieved in reference to any matter connected with the school, the cause of such grievance must be stated, in writing, to the director, if action is desired thereon.