DY, I agree. I guess I was trying not to overstate it but , yes, it was very bad. It was why the Gedolim , who were initially opposed, realized it had to be done and gave their approval to Bais Yaacov
Im not sure when exactly but sometime in the 1800’s school became mandatory for both boys and girls. As boys went to Cheder, this usually satisfied the mandatory educational requirement. There was no equivelant for girls so they had to go to public school, thats why Beis Yaakov was formed