EDF 1005- Reflection 19

Education has greatly improved throughout the years. Education had gone from just simply lessons in a classroom to becoming social movements! The first schools were founded by Christopher Lambs who began schools only to recite scriptures for children to learn how to read. Education was begun to construct with religion as the foundation within colonial schools with the sole purpose to save souls of children. Lessons were based on the Bible. As you can see from this small explanation of colonial education, modern education has definitely developed to a completely different form. Children first began being taught at home by their parents and grandparents about values, morals, and manners. Women began to turn their own homes into schools in which they would welcome children to learn. These schools were called Dame Schools. The women became teachers of their community for a fee. Unfortunately, Latin Grammar schools were available only for the elite boys who were able to afford this education and those who graduated were held to have high expectations of going on to college and graduating with great success. These boys would become leaders and ministers. Soon after, a school to prepare ministers was established. This school was called Harvard. Education was not in favor of all races back then. Blacks and Native Americans were not allowed to attend schools together with whites. Also, there were not many choices on where to go to school. There were very limited school locations, but northern colonies offered more opportunities. We have developed a lot since then; now children of any race can attend school together. I believe this is important so that children can experience an array of types of people and culture. Many children who are raised knowing only of their culture grow up and don’t handle experiences with other people well. They sometimes grow up not accepting of others, and racist. Religion can’t even be mentioned in public schools unlike how it was back then. Religion is no longer the basis of education, at least not in our American public high school education. Teachers can be fired for bringing up religious discussions within the classroom. This can be a good thing because the teacher may be bias toward their belief. As a result, a student of another religion can spark up some conflict, or feel left out. Also, public schools are available to everyone and are not just for the few wealthy. Education has become implemented into our society as a regular everyday life necessity, like eating.