Education in New England, the Middle Colonies, and the South took three different forms. Each form of education reflected the beliefs and the social organization of the area in which it predominated. Describe the differences among the predominant forms of education in each of these three areas. Explain the features of community life that seemed to influence how education developed in each area

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

ANSWER: Suggested answer: New England: Settled by Puritans who lived in compact communities and believed that everyone should be able to read and interpret the Bible. The Puritans first had town schools, one in each town of fifty families or more, then moving schools, which went to remote farmlands. District schools were finally established in each township. Schools were funded by the town treasury and included moral instruction according to Puritan ideas since religiously the population was fairly homogeneous. Middle Colonies: Settled by a variety of religious and ethnic groups, each of which valued separate education. Promoted private venture schools licensed by civil government but funded by parents rather than taxes. Religious training was offered, but differed among schools, according to the religion of those sponsoring each school. South: Settled by Anglican Englishmen of the upper class, who established large plantations and settlements quite distant from each other. They did not believe in a religious imperative to learn to read. Southerners hired tutors to educate children. Schools might be established by government authority, but run by a corporation that collected tuition and administered the school.