Schools and Churches

    There were different religions in the different colonies.   In many towns, the church was also the school and the town hall.  Church leaders made the rules of how the people would act, dress and speak.  The Sabbath was a time to think about God and think about how He wanted people to live their lives.   The Sabbath started on Saturday afternoon and lasted until the sun went down on Sunday.  You couldn’t work on the Sabbath.  You couldn’t cook, you couldn’t even make your bed!

        Teaching children was very important to the colonist.  Children went to school in a one-room schoolhouse.  They learned to read and write.  They learned to read using a hornbook.  This was a piece of board with the alphabet, numbers, and a prayer written on it.  The students learned by memorizing their lessons and what the teacher said.  They learned good manners. They learned to obey the people who were older than they were.

        Some children did not have schools to go to.  The parents would teach their own children and use the Bible to teach their children how to read and write.

        Some wealthy families were able to send their boys to private schools or hire tutors.  A few of these boys were able to go to college.