Question

What was a section of public land set aside to support public schools under the land ordinance of 1785

Answer 1

The said Ordinance was important for creating an instrument for education that was funded by the public.  Under Section 16, every township was set aside for the preservation of public schools.  Many schools are still found on the section sixteen of their own townships even if several have been sold to generate income for public education.  Even in latter states, section 36 of each townships was also assigned as a school section.  This gave children living in a township access to education.