The History of Teaching in America

Schooling in America in had a long and slow start. Many children did not get schooling of any kind in the early years of our country. The idea of children doing work has changed slowing into the idea that no child is let behind. Though our country failed on some points they have done nothing but improve education services for everyone.

In the early stages of America, as an English colony, there was almost no schooling. Calvinists were the first people to start schooling their children (Fraise 5). Wherever Calvinism has gone learning has thrived and developed among other things. Harvard, Yale, and Princeton were all originally founded by Calvinists (“Calvinism and Education”).

Many high end families in the Colonial era taught their children at home. There were no schools to send kids to for the day. The parents taught reading, writing, math poems, and of course prayers to their children. Poems and prayers were sacred, so they were recited until a child memorized them. Everyone learned out of a bible, a primer and a hornbook. After basic math, writing, and reading were learned boys and girls would learn their trades and crafts. Girls would learn how to sew and cook, while boys would learn how to be good plantation owners. When social etiquette and plantation management was taught to the maximum then boys would be sent to England for higher education boarding school. The girls would then be taught by a governess who was usually, from England. The governess would teach the girls French, art, needle working, etc (“Colonial Education: Education for Boys and Girls”).

The child’s main school book, the hornbook is very different from any schoolbook today. At first the hornbook was released in Europe and America. The book was a paddle with lessons tacked, that were covered in a transparent part of a ram horn. There was a small hole and kids could loop it on to his or her belt. The hornbook

consisted of an alphabet, vowel congregations, a cross, the Lord’s Prayer, and praise of the Trinity. The hornbook was very small yet took a huge part in the history of early education (Austin).

Many poor kids did not receive a great education. Children of poor families received no teaching of religion and ended up being illiterate. The poor children would take an apprenticeship. The apprenticeship could last anywhere from three to ten years. The children would get only one skill for to them to survive in the colonies (“Colonial Education: Education for Boys and Girls”).