You wrote:
"The model we used for as the basis for our own public school system on comes from Prussia. The stated goal of the system was to create workers for the factories, soldiers who would mindlessly follow orders, and citizens who would be easy to control. "
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I've not really researched what you are stating here...but in the recesses of my brain...I keep thinking that they used to require Latin..considerable world geography, and fairly complex critical thinking exercises even in many of the ''one room'' school houses...in the 1800's. That doesn't sound like your average assembly line worker..I'm not doubting you..just trying to make it all jive...in my brain.
Is what you have described...Horace Mann's basic template? Horace Mann..was..as many refer...the "father of modern P.S.'s...wasn't he?
While looking for what I wanted to link you to I found this really good essay- its a pretty quick read even though it is several pages long.
http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/historytour/history1.htm okay here is the one I wanted- it gets reposted here pretty regularly:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/593722/posts This gives a good history of American compulsory education. The author, John Taylo gatto, was a New York Public School Teacher and even one Teacher of the Year- twice if I remember correctly until he got fed up with what/how he was being forced to teach (I belive his "famous" quote was that he could no longer harm children.) He resignedd as a teacher in an OpEd piece- in the New York Times I believe- and if I find a copy of it I'll post the link here. If you like what he has to say he has much more on the web and in bookstores.