it is easy to forget that public education is a relatively new phenomenon. even in the U.S., which has a relatively developed education system, public schools only started flourishing in the early 19th century. Before that, while the affluent were ableto hire tutors for their children, most education of children took place within the family and the community. Some people are now going back to teaching children themselves (or hiring tutors), especially in countries where the mainstream education system is considered poor.