Exploring Education in the 13 Colonies

Education in the 13 colonies was primarily religious and varied by region. Children learned basic skills like reading, writing, and arithmetic, often using scarce resources like primers and hornbooks. New England focused on Christianity, while the middle colonies taught a single religion, often privately. Southern education was home-based, preparing boys for plantation life and girls for household management. Boys studied advanced subjects, while girls had limited educational opportunities. The video reflects on how different and unequal colonial education was compared to today.

What subjects did children in the 13 colonies typically learn?

• Reading, writing, simple math, poems, and prayers

• Science, history, and geography

• Art, music, and physical education

• Foreign languages and advanced mathematics

Why did children have to memorize their lessons?

• Because it was a tradition

• Because it was easier than writing

• Because teachers preferred it

• Because paper was scarce

What was a primer used for in colonial schools?

• To teach the alphabet, vowels, consonants, and religious poems

• To teach advanced mathematics

• To teach science and geography

• To teach physical education

What was a hornbook?

• A sheet of paper mounted on a board with a handle

• A type of musical instrument

• A book made of animal horn

• A book used for teaching science

What was the primary focus of education in the New England colonies?

• Christianity and reading the Bible

• Physical education

• Science and technology

• Art and music

How was education different in the Middle colonies compared to New England?

• They had no schools at all

• They focused on science and technology

• They taught only one religion, often Catholicism

• They focused on physical education

What subjects did boys in the Southern colonies study?

• Foreign languages and advanced mathematics

• Art, music, and physical education

• Higher math, Latin, science, celestial navigation, geography, history, fencing, social etiquette, and plantation management

• Science and technology

What was the role of girls in the Southern colonies' education system?

• To study advanced subjects like boys

• To learn their duties as the mistress of a plantation

• To become teachers

• To become scientists

Who typically taught girls in the Southern colonies?

• A governess

• Their brothers

• A male tutor

• Their fathers

Why did girls not have the opportunity to go to England for higher education?

• They were already highly educated

• It was not considered important for them

• They preferred to stay at home

• They were not allowed to travel