This paper traces the ideology (assertions, theories, and aims) of public schooling from Plato through the first Prussian state school system under Bismarck, through Adam Smith and John Stuart Mill. It contends that public schooling contradicts and works to destroy the United States' libertarian traditions of freedom and self-rule. Though not often reported in America's history, responsible critics of the public school ideology have continued to resist it both in this country and in Europe. Critics of public schooling reason as follows: in a republic, citizens have the power to shape society and government so that society's structure will be along the lines that its leaders think best. Leaders must employ the public schools to mold the citizens to retain the leaders' idea of the good society. As a minimum, the schools must condition citizens not to exercise their power against the leaders. Finally, whether the goal of the moment is homogeneity or social betterment, the chief role of public schooling is to condition the individual to serve first the interests of society and the state. The paper concludes that the future of America's liberty requires separation of the school from the state. (Author/JK)