EDF 1005- Reflection 17

Education and society now in America is very different from colonial New England. Education of colonial New England had a huge emphasis on religion. They used the bible instead of a text-book to teach the basic subjects we have in today’s schools, such as reading, writing and math. Religion played a large role in the education because schools were initially made just to teach children about religion in earlier times. The intention for schools was to save the souls of children in those times. It was believed that to be a better spouse and parent; children had to learn how to read scriptures. Today, the complete opposite is taking place in today at U.S schools. Religion isn’t even permitted to be mentioned in the classroom because of the controversy that can be sparked up. A teacher may even have her career in public schooling revoked just for trying to influence students on their views, or embed their beliefs inside the classroom. Earlier education, however, was at home. Many women began welcoming children into their own homes, in which they would open to teach them themselves. These one-woman-home-made schools were called dame schools and the women who taught in their homes would eventually become their local neighborhood’s official teacher for a fee. Today a woman can’t just randomly open her home to teach the local kids. A person who wants a career in teaching must attend college and have a degree for their subject before becoming a teacher. School attendance is another major contrast between colonial New England education and present day U.S education. Once the girls became literate to become adequate house keepers, they were sent back home. The boys who could afford continuing their studies transitioned into a Latin grammar school. Transitioning from their original school to the Latin grammar school is similar to today how students come from middle school to high school. The students who had the special privilege of attending this colonial “high school” had high expectations from society. They were meant to graduate college to find wealthy and powerful careers, most likely within the church, as leaders or ministers. In present education children of both genders may attend the same school together and attend wherever they’d like (or what they and their parents can both agree to). People of color and Native Americans were not allowed to attend school. Although, unfortunately, we are still living amongst racist people and some discrimination today, in education you will never see this. Perhaps amongst the students, but if a teacher shows discrimination to any race he/she are highly likely to be fired. Gender and race were big problems within the education system of colonial New England, fortunately unlike back them, modern day America do not take gender and race as a preference for deciding what child may or may not attend schools. Public schools today consist of children with any race, gender, and ethnicity. Every child deserves a fair education.