Addressing his friends and neighbors before he left for the presidency:

“I now leave,” he told them, “not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of the Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.”

How articulate - and he did not attend school.  Now compare that with the majority of our nation's youth in compulary education.  Where has public school gotten us, that those who lived without it didn't have?  The better question would be, what has compulsary education done to our youth?