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Colonial Period
During the Colonial Period schools were ran by the community. They were ran by community people, and because of this decisions were made with a realistic mind-set rather than an educational policy mind-set. They also believed that the sole purpose of educaiton was to stregthen morality, assist the growing economy, and preserve the social order. They also thought there was little or no need for book learning. During this time they also believed to teach children to be God-fearing. -
Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Believed that illiterate people were easy targets for Satan, and because of this these people established laws requiring families and communities to be responsible for educating their children -
Old Deluder Satan Act
The Old Deluder Satan Act required that every town of fifty or more families hire a primary school teacher for young children, and that towns of one hundred or more families appoint a Latin teacher to prepare promising young men for entrance into Harvard College. (Pg. 219) -
Fines were given
During this period there was a law that was established in which if a family had a child under their guidance who had not learned to read and write by the age of twelve or learned a useful trade was charged a fine of 5 pounds per child. (pg. 219) -
The New England Primer
Once children got advanced in reading they moved onto books called "primers" which advanced them in literacy in the context of moral and religious lessons. The New England Primer of 1777 included passages about the bible and religion to help with the alphabet and gain reading practice.
