8-1Education

On the website “William Shakespeare: The Complete Works,” by L.K. Alchin, he says a little something about Elizabethan Education: “It is important to note that a school's curriculum and the Elizabethan education of children was dictated by the ruling monarch of the time which would, of course, also reflect the religion of that particular King or Queen.” Of course, at the time, Queen Elizabeth was the ruler of England, so she obviously set the standards for the school systems there. Many of the school systems were split by age groups. L.K. Alchin’s goes on to write “In the Elizabethan era the childhood for boys, from the age of five to seven, was spent by being sent for the most elementary level of education at what was called a ' Petty School '. At the ' Petty School ' children's education would consist of being taught to read and write English, learn the catechism and also learn lessons in behaviour.” As you can see, Queen Elizabeth had high standards for the young children at such an age. She wanted them to appreciate the value of respect for those of older age, and at the same time, receive the education of reading and writing that was especially required. Many lessons in the schools were biblical and Christian. It wasn’t required for the children to properly memorize such passages, however, they were taught firmly into the minds of the young ones. They also used a horn-book. A horn book was a piece of parchment plastered over a piece of wood and covered with horn, which was a thin, transparent slate of real animal horn. It had a handle on the wood frame for easy carrying uses. On the parchment was the English alphabet, so that children could learn it easier. Beginning at the age of seven, children of rich born decent would be tutored at home, while all the other children went to Grammar School. They would be taught by an Usher, who was either a Junior Master or a Senior Pupil of the school. At first, they would be taught rudiments of Latin, while at the same time learning the basic conventions of English writing, like verbs, nouns, and such. Next, they would learn sentence structure and advanced spelling with some other Latin courses included, and finally they would learn Latin-English and vice-versa translations. From A Daily Life In Elizabethan England, it states that “Boys normally attended Grammar school until they reached the age of fourteen when they would have continued their Elizabethan education at a University. Teachings from various faculties were available to University students.” So, from an overview of a child’s education, it’s easy to see that Queen Elizabeth cared for the children, and believed in high moral and intellectual standards at young ages, such as respect for older people and learning Latin. Although the education at the time was slightly expensive, and was harder than the curriculum that most people today would consider “normal,” I believe it was well worth it and led to a fruitful and easier life.

-Zack S.