Final answer:
Benjamin Franklin is credited with originating today's early release program through his proposal of Daylight Saving Time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The originator of today's early release program is generally credited to Benjamin Franklin. Franklin is known for proposing the idea of Daylight Saving Time, which involves adjusting clocks to extend daylight during the summer months. This concept is closely related to the idea of early release, as it allows for more daylight hours in the evening.
Franklin's proposal to maximize daylight can be traced back to an essay he wrote in 1784, titled 'An Economical Project for Diminishing the Cost of Light.' He suggested that people could save money on candles by waking up earlier to make use of natural daylight. This idea evolved over time and eventually led to the implementation of early release programs in various forms in different parts of the world.