Funding the Rise of Mass Schooling

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This book offers an expert analysis of the funding behind the rise of mass schooling in the nineteenth century, utilizing rich source materials from rural Swedish school districts and evidence from countries like France, Germany, England, and the U.S. Westberg explores the moral considerations that shaped economic practices, revealing that the development of schooling relied not only on money but also on resources such as grains, firewood, and cow fodder. The study uncovers that school districts’ motivations were not primarily driven by frugality or fear of the working class; instead, school spending aimed to achieve fair and reasonable economic practices. Serving as a detailed case study of Sweden from 1840 to 1900, the book broadens the theoretical framework of education history by integrating social, agrarian, and economic perspectives. It highlights a significant evolution in school finance, transitioning from an in-kind support system to a more monetarized, depersonalized, and homogenized approach. With its interdisciplinary appeal, this work will engage scholars in education history, sociology, and economics.