education

Background CYurky Homer-Center USHistory 8

Middle Ages during Middle Ages, reading was not important education preserved in monasteries Kings hired monks as clerics to read for them

Renaissance during the Renaissance, education became important again

colonies most colonists learned to read in education was important to all regions most colonists learned to read education provided opportunity to succeed

New England

religion basis for education ability to read defense against evil (Puritan ideals) only books allowed were religious ones (Bible frequently used)

New England Primer

Public Education town with 50 families had to hire a teacher town with 100 families had to build a school as religious influence declined, so did emphasis on religion in school

Subjects Reading Writing Arithmetic religion Latin

Middle

Church based schools no public schools Quakers opposed taxes church based private schools each town had own church ∴ church school

Subjects Reading Writing Arithmetic Science English

South

Tutors Schools not practical wealthy families hired private tutors to teach children (and whomever else owner chose) taught in the home

subjects Reading Writing Arithmetic Music French

Backcountry

Backcountry parents taught peddlers brought books / materials

Lower Classes

Learn the basics parents apprentices night schools - immigrant adults Dame schools (private combination day-care / elementary schools)

Women

family attitudes Women’s education depended on attitudes in New England, Puritans believed women’s minds were inferior in south, girls more likely to be taught along side brothers (same price)

College

Harvard William and Mary (1693) Yale (1701) Princeton (1746) first college – Harvard (1636) by 1775, 8 colleges William and Mary (1693) Yale (1701) Princeton (1746) Columbia (1754) Penn (1757) Brown (1764) Dartmouth (1769) William and Mary

College Education only wealthy can afford subjects taught: boys start 15 or 16 lasted 5 years all students taught same, no “majors” subjects taught: Rhetoric Geometry Logic Astronomy Science History Ethics Hebrew Greek Latin

College Education Helped develop American identity as sons of southern planters learned along side of sons of New England businessmen