Historic Parallel?

Perhaps somebody who knows history can help me here.

I’m wondering if there is an appropriate parallel to draw between the movement toward universal education and universal health care. It’s my understanding that in the early years of our country, all education was private. It was a luxury. Many people simply didn’t have access to education.

How did education go public? Who fought for it? Who fought against it? What arguments did each camp use? What position did faith communities take? I’d love to know which Bible texts were quoted.

I would not be surprised to find out that women were on the forefront of the push for public education. Substantive change often comes from the fringes of society, from the places where power is informal and based in moral authority rather than formal authority structures.

Then again, I could be all wrong. There’s a lot I don’t know about how change happens, politically speaking.