The Colonial Education System

Colonization was detrimental to not only the physical bodies of the Native Americans, but to their minds as well. The shift in indigenous education was a destructive one; Western education completely overtook the indigenous education that had thrived for generations. Instead of allowing education to benefit both indigenous and European peoples, it was used as a tool to destroy indigenous culture. When the settlers from Europe and Spain first came to the Americas, “indigenous men and women articulated their petitions for more educational spaces” (Díaz 60). The attempt to share educational spaces was continuously rejected by the settlers in an attempt to spur assimilation instead of cooperation.

One area that has been shaped by Puritan influence is public education. Puritans created the first free formal school in 1635 called Roxbury Latin School. The objective was for everyone to be capable to learn to read and have a better educated Puritan society. Consequently, the institution was so remarkably influential that just four years later, the first college, Harvard, was formed. Even younger kids, mostly ages 6-8, were able to attend a Dame school where they studied how to read. This system has many similarities to our public education system today. Children today go to elementary school where basic reading, writing, and math is taught, which can be

The New England colonists, except for Rhode Island, were predominantly Puritans who practiced very strict religious lives. The civil government in these colonies dealt quite harshly with those who dared to disagree with the Puritan church. People were being exiled for speaking out against Puritanism. They whipped baptists. They cropped, or cut off, the ears of Quakers. They even went as far as to hang Quaker missionaries. They did all of this in an order to proselytize and convert people to be Puritan.

The history of both educational systems has early beginnings. Public education in Canada evolved from France and Great Britain and the U.S Northern borders. It system still today resemble France and Great Britain and because of our close proximity they have adapted some parts of the United States educational system. Educational system of the United States began in the 1600s in the New England colonies of Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire. In the 1800s, education was reserved for only the wealthy and by 1918, all states passed laws requiring all children to attend at least elementary. Subsequently during the same period public support for secondary and high school gained popularity. In spite of the belief that public education should be available to every child irrespective of

In the 1630's and the 1640's, the Puritans traveled to the colonies to detach from their opinion of a convoluted Church of England. They set up towns and started new lives that were all based on their idea of a pure religion. The Puritan's definition of a pure religion did not include many of the ideas of the Church of England. They built the colonies and made a system based upon the idea that God was the most important aspect of life. Puritan ideas and values influenced the political, economic, and social development of the New England colonies from 1630 through the 1660’s by spreading their beliefs into every facet of daily life. Politically their ideas regarding what was considered sinful behavior and how power was separated among the

Education in the New England colonies was very important because reading the bible was part of their daily life. The New England colonies had the first public educational systems and had the highest literacy rate in the world at the time. These colonies were very socially stable because everyone worked to together to build their society. The New England colonies were very religious, John Winthrop Quotes, "We must consider that we shall be

Education in the late 1700’s and early 1800 was only available to those who had money. Public education was not available to everybody. Children who came from wealthy parents were able to learn how to read and write. These children went on to continue the cycle with their children. Schools came about when towns would pull their resources and higher teachers. The teachers were literally paid by bushels of wheat and half of a cow. School was based off the Bible. These facts and many more make me so grateful for not being born during this time. I love education and I love learning. I don’t know what I would do without the education I have received and continue to receive.

Religious uniformity was very important as they were intolerant of any other religion, and only church members were part of the government at first. Citizens were required to attend Church services as part of the law. Most of the people in New England had been merchants or small farmers in England. In New England however, the rocky soil made it hard for a lot of farming, so the Puritans turned to the coast. They built up major industries such as shipbuilding and fishing, and established trade routes with England, and the Caribbean. The New Englanders were a very pious and hardworking people, very different from their southern neighbours.

For others, it was the idea of riches that pushed them to travel and settle in the new world. In the Chesapeake region, the established church was the Church of England. The regiment of the church was much looser and less strict than that of New England's society. In the New England area, many of the colonists were Puritans, who led a life devoted to their faith, and to serving God. Religion was directly tied to education in the colonies. In New England, the people used their zeal to create schools for writing, reading, education of the bible, and to create seminaries for the education of ministers. In the Chesapeake colonies, where the religious regiment was not as strict due to the rural area and the distance between the church and church members, people were less educated because of the distance. The geographics of both the Chesapeake and the New England area helped to determine religious practices and economic

Although Maryland was founded as a refuge for English Catholics, the Chesapeake wasn’t very religion-oriented. Instead, the colonies focused on building a strong economy, which developed its aristocratic atmosphere. The Church of England was established, making the main religion Anglican. Because of its plantation economy, nearly 75% of the Chesapeake’s population was slaves, mainly male. Considering the Chesapeake was so heavily focused on making profit the plantations, education was not emphasized. The literacy rates were extremely low. Up north, the New England colonies were heavily focused on religion, hence the Congregational Church dominated the region. The main motive was to create a community that followed the world of God and to escape from religious persecution back home in England. Therefore, religious education and academics were highly emphasized, making New England have some of the highest literacy rates. The first public education system in America was founded in Massachusetts by Puritan settlers in 1635. It can be concluded that the cause of the difference between social Chesapeake and New England also leads back to their reasons for

Articles written during a specific period gives the future population an idea of the issues present during that time. Before the United States became independent, woman education was limited to the skill needed to be a good wife and proper mother. Particularly, upper-class woman were the only ones that had the resources to gain an education. Most middle and lower class focus primarily on the education of their males. European education influence Colonial America’s educational system. Since there weren’t any establish convents schools in the colonies, tutors were primarily hired and later on schools were incorporated. During the first years of schooling, new England girls went to a coed school called “dame school”. In the dame school, girls were thought to knit and sew. Many girls got the chance to go to the town school. However, some town school in new England prohibited girls from attending. In the south, girls got the

Puritans believed God had made a “long promised summons” to them. Creating a society in every way connected to just God was challenging enough for the Puritans but also the need to spread His words to other people. The Puritans’ priorities were centralized on their religion and the teaching of it. This shows their focus in education to them was to teach children religious and moral beliefs. No doubt that the educational life of a Puritan began at home. In keeping with covenant household, the salvation of children and their spiritual being was in the heart of every parent. Parents prayed that their children would become a source of glory. The Puritans started the Old Dilutor Act: to teach children to read and write so they can understand the

In the modern-day society, education is an equal part for men and women. The difference between the two is rarely seen today. However, in the 1700’s the idea that women should have an education, or the ability to hold an education was a topic that was merely laughed at. Being so, what went into the female brain was solely up to the males of society. Wollstonecraft depicts that women unknowingly subject themselves to men and their sphere because society educates them to do so.

Access to education continued to be problematic even in the colonial time. Individuals with more resources were able to access different books, journals and magazines. Should this really be the case in America today? It is my hope the education continues to transform from the colonial times, with growth in awareness of social economy statuses and awareness of the concerns of everyday citizens. Even though, education reform as continue to change with new leadership on the federal, state and local levels some social and political injustices to access continue. It is vital that individuals in power make changes by creating conditions and spaces where everyone has fair and equal opportunity to access all books and other educational material.

The childhood of colonial children is different than it is now. The children played an economic role in the family. Now children do not have to help provide for the family. Some do help when they get older. During the nineteenth century, children's individuality emerged as a valued ideal. In today's time most children have more resources resulting in a better childhood