Horace Greeley talked about the education of all children in the 19th century. With the arrival of new immigrants, state legislators passed a compulsory attendance law in support of Greeley’s thinking to “melt” the different cultures into a common denominator. Greeley’s dream appeared to have become reality — almost. Children with disabilities attended trade classes with no academic instruction or stayed home. The Supreme Court decision of 1890 allowing “separate but equal” schools mirrored this contemporary thinking.

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