“I would promise the whole amount (for funding a new school) were I not afraid that some day my gift might be abused for someone’s selfish purposes, as I see happen in many places where teachers’ salaries are paid from public funds. There is only one remedy to meet this evil: if the appointment of teachers is left entirely to the parents, and they are conscientious about making a wise choice through their obligation to contribute to the cost.”

Pliny the Younger (c61-112 AD) explaining why he was only partly funding a new school.