Abstract
The struggle to establish and maintain a system of public free schools throughout the United States has been one fraught with intricate problems involving philosophy, method, financing, and many divergent suggestions concerning structure and organization. The recognition by the early founding fathers associated with continued use and adherence to European concepts of education and educative devices paved the way, of course augmented considerably by the advent of the Westward Movement, for the organization and development of a system of public free school education relative to and commensurate with the type social development peculiar to the frontier environment. Development of education in Texas has, quite naturally, been influenced by varying factors in operation at any given time in the history of the state. The Fraternity of Freemasons served as a catalyst in the development of the public free school aspect of education during the First through the Eighth Legislatures in the State of Texas. This synthetization of concept which was provided by the Freemasons must be regarded as a significant contribution to the philosophy of education was [sic] well as solidifying agent toward its structure and initiation as an operational force in society.
Thornton, Joe Frank (1971). The relationship of freemasonry to the structure, organization, and administration of public school education in Texas, 1861-1885. Doctoral dissertation, Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University. Libraries. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /DISSERTATIONS -181301.