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Settlers in Plymouth 1600-1700
Early Puritan immigrants who settled in the Bay Colonies established public schools which educated boys for up to 24 hours a day/7 days a week. The Puritans valued study both for religious knowledge and for economic success. As a result of these early public school efforts, 70% of men in New England compared to 40% in England and 29% in France. https://www1.umassd.edu/ir/resources/laboreducation/literacy.pdf -
Massachusetts School Law of 1642
One of the first attempts at compulsory education was the General School Law of 1642, enacted in Massachusetts in 1642 and soon after in the Mid-Atlantic Colonies. Similar efforts passed in the Southern Colonies up to 100 years later. The law compelled parents and masters to provided education in reading and writing for their children and their apprentices. However the law was largely ignored by the general public. Eric R. Eberling, Massachusetts Education Laws of 1642, 1647, and 1948. -
Old Deluder Satan Act of 1647
This famous law from colonial America framed ignorance as a work of Satan (i.e. The Old Deluder). The belief was that illiteracy was a tool Satan could use to keep men from understanding Bible scriptures. The law decreed that each town should provide for the foundation, operation and funding of schools. Failure to provide teachers or grammar schools could result in a find of 5 pounds. Andrew J. Milson (ed.), Readings In American Educational Thought: From Puritanism to Progressivism. -
The New England Primer published in 1690
The New England Primer which became the most widely used Primer in the Colonies was published by Benjamin Harris. The text was still in use in the 1900's. The text contains a mix of Puritan religious values and basic literacy. An example is, "A In Adam's Fall, We sinned all. B Thy life to mend, this book attend. https://www3.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7/neprimer.html -
Society of Friends promotes educational equity in Philadelphia 1739-1785
The Quakers were radical agents of change in early education promoting equity for females and for black children. Anthony Benezet, a Frenchman who joined the Philadelphia Quaker by 1831, was one of the earliest American abolitionists. In 1739 he begin teaching and by 1750, he had added night classes for Black students. In 1754, he establish the first public girls school and in 1770 opened the Negro school at Philadelphia. "Anthony Benezet: biography and bibliography", -
American Academy founded by Ben Franklin (1753)
The curriculum was geared to prepare students for employment. The curriculum of this and similar schools eventually replaced the Latin grammar schools. Some of the schools admitted women as well. http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/features/1700s/acad_curric.html -
A Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge 1779
In this bill, Thomas Jefferson, proposed that tax funds be used to provide three years of public education for all boys and girls. The bill was presented several times by Jefferson and James Madison and was eventually passed in a much-revised form in 1796 as an "Act to Establish Public Schools." https://founders.archives.gov/about/Jefferson -
A Grammatical Institute of the English Language (1783)
Noah Webster codified spelling and grammar of American English in this weighty tome, which in many ways, is still the basis for American grammar education. He later published "A Compendious Dictionary of the American Language" in 1806 which standardized American spellings like "color" and "music" and added American words such as "skunk" and "squash".https://www.noahwebsterhouse.org/discover/noah-webster-history.htm -
Thoughts Upon the Mode of Education Proper in a Republic 1786
Rush was a founding father and a surgeon general. His 1789 essay on education proclaimed 20 points that he considered essential to American education. In this essay, he outlined the ideal education for the perfect Republican and Christian citizen. He promoted nationalism and the education of citizens as "Republican machines". He also advocated for providing an education for women which would be useful in raising citizens of a republic. https://www3.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7/rush.html -
Franklin's Proposals Related to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania (1849)
Franklin emphasized reason over religion. His philosophy is not merely a "cash value" system. It was much more broad and humanitarian. He believed in mastering the English language writing and public speaking and thought 2nd languages were only useful for commerce. He spoke out fervently against slavery and chauvinism and promoted education for African-Americans and women. Blinderman, A. (1976). Three early champions of education: Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Rush, and Noah Webster.
