The History of Education in the United States
Continues...
Module 2.2
Mandated Education Originates...
The Massachusetts Act of 1642 was a law requiring each town to
determine whether its young people could read or write. Before this law
originated, parents decided if their children would be educated at home or at
school. Church and civic leaders of the colonies decided that children were
receiving an inadequate education. These leaders felt that organized schools
would help to preserve their Puritan religious beliefs. Therefore, the Puritans
decided to make education a responsibility of the state, which was how
compulsory education originated. Once this law was passed, parents of children
that could not read or write could be fined or even lose custody of their
children!
The Massachusetts Act of 1647 mandated the establishment and
support of schools. This act was referred to as the Old Deluder Satan Act
because education was seen as a protection against the devil.
Education for African Americans and
Native Americans
Although there were almost half a million African-Americans in the United
States around the time of the Revolutionary War, most were slaves. Education for
this group was considered the responsibility of the owner and most
African-Americans had little or no opportunity to learn skills beyond what they
needed to serve their masters. One of the first schools for African Americans
was started by Elias Neau in New York City in 1704. This school was sponsored by
the Church of England. Neau's school taught African and Native Americans how to
read in an effort to convert them. The Quakers, who believed that slavery was
wrong, were one of the first groups to establish schools for both African and
Native Americans. However, many southern states passed laws forbidding people to
teach slaves how to read and write.
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