Translate this old (1894) discourse from a seven-time Italian Ministry of Edu: https://web.archive.org/web/20210424055431/https://www.cr… the core is We must only teach reading and writing; common people should be educated just enough, teaching history with a healthy nationalistic slant, and reducing all sciences to a single subject of "general knowledge", without any precise syllabus or textbooks, leaving room for the teacher's initiative and re-evaluating the noblest and oldest form of teaching: domestic education. Finally, we must set aside anti-dogmatism, the education of doubt and criticism; in short, just make them read and write. They mustn't Otherwise there'll be big troubles! -- Guido Baccelli BTW is also useful to quote Cardinal Carlo Carafa (1517 - 1561) "vulgus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur" or the people want to be deceived, so let them be.