Puritans shaped early American education with religious fervor. They used tools like the New England Primer and hornbooks to teach reading, writing, and Christian values. Their focus on literacy aimed to help people understand the Bible and resist temptation.

Puritan educational institutions included town schools and dame schools. These provided basic education for boys and girls, though expectations differed by gender. The Old Deluder Satan Act of 1647 required towns to establish schools, laying groundwork for public education.

Puritan Educational Materials

Primary Teaching Tools

• New England Primer served as the principal textbook for millions of colonists and early Americans, teaching children the alphabet, syllables, and words through rote memorization
• Hornbook consisted of a sheet of paper mounted on a wooden paddle, protected by a thin sheet of transparent horn, used to teach the alphabet, basic syllables, and prayers
• Catechism contained a summary of religious doctrine in the form of questions and answers to be memorized, aimed at instilling Puritan beliefs and values in children from a young age

Puritan Educational Institutions

Formal and Informal Schooling

• Town schools, also known as common schools, were established in New England towns to provide basic education to all children, with a focus on reading, writing, and arithmetic
• Town schools were supported by taxes and were open to both boys and girls, although the curriculum and expectations often differed based on gender
• Dame schools were informal, home-based schools run by women (often widows) who taught reading, writing, and domestic skills to young children in their homes for a small fee
• Dame schools provided an early form of preschool and primary education, particularly for girls and younger boys, before they attended town schools or apprenticeships

Puritan Educational Beliefs

Religious Influence on Education

• Puritanism, a strict Calvinist form of Protestantism, heavily influenced the purpose and content of education in colonial New England
• Puritans believed that education was essential for individuals to read and understand the Bible, as well as to resist temptation and lead a moral life
• Moral education was a central focus of Puritan schooling, with an emphasis on instilling virtues such as obedience, hard work, and self-discipline through religious instruction and strict discipline
• Bible literacy was considered crucial for salvation, leading to a strong emphasis on reading and memorizing scriptures in Puritan schools and homes

Legal Support for Education

• The Old Deluder Satan Act, passed by the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1647, required every town with 50 or more families to establish a school to teach reading and writing
• The act was motivated by the belief that education would help individuals resist the temptations of Satan and maintain a godly society
• This legislation laid the foundation for public education in the United States and reflected the Puritan conviction that education was necessary for both spiritual and civic purposes