The Politics of Literacy

Colonial Education – Holly Tilley

During this education time period the primary education only consisted of reading, writing, simple math, poems, and prayers. Boys and girls had to memorize their lessons due to the lack of resources in textbooks and paper. Mainly the children used the Bible, a primer, and a hornbook during their school day. Education was only taught to the whites and helped prepare them for their roles in plantation life.

Boys and girls of planters experienced education in different ways. School days were very different from each other. The boys were taught by a male tutor and were usually taught the basics at home. If there was a young boy in a wealthy family then that family could send their boy to a boarding school in England for higher education. Girls basically learned enough reading, writing, and arithmetic to be able to read their Bibles and keep up the household. Girls were not allowed to go to boarding schools in England because education was not considered important to them. Children from poor families took on apprenticeships which lasted 3-10 years instead of being educated in literacy and religion. Schooling was mainly for upper class.

There were a few laws that were passed during the colonial education period. One in particular was The Law of 1647, “Old Deluder Satan Act”. This was one of Americans first education acts. This also led to formal schooling becoming more desirable. The act required that all towns of 50 or more families to provide an elementary school (hire a schoolmaster). Towns of 100 families must have a grammar schoolmaster to prepare their kids for Harvard College.

There were different types of schools during this time period. There was a Dame school which is like a daycare, where parents could drop their kids off while they completed daily task. The dame would teach the kids their abc’s, numbers, etc. You also had district schools during this period. New England Colonies established school districts to reach out and educate more people and they taught reading, writing, and arithmetic.