Reading Response 1

Ch. 1 Education in the Colonial Era


Reading Response 1: Summarize your readings briefly by doing "Who does what to whom, when, where, how, and why?" (with page numbers to cite your references to the text). Respond personally to three or more things from the text that connects to your personal and/or professional life.


Education in the Colonial Era

According to our book, the colonial period was categorized as the period between European settlement and the declaration of our independence in 1776. This occurred in North America, which is now known as the United States of America. Marking the late fifteenth through seventeenth century, the colonial period was the turning point in civilization for many reasons (Gutek, 2013, p. 1). 

Although I was conscientiously aware of the colonial period, I did not really think about this being the pivotal moment in the history of the American educational system. Noticeably this was the foundation that the American society was formed on, but what intrigued me was that English cultural and society views are still related, in a sense, to modern day educational values (Gutek, 2013, p. 1). English cultural was prevalent but not entirely integrated into modern day upbringings because of the new surroundings present in North American (Gutek, 2013, p.1). Therefore, some traditional knowledge still stands, but the vast majority of the educational system is very different than how it started.

Native American Culture and Education

Various cultures and colonies around the world were competitors with the new found land settlers. However, another cultural was present in the surroundings of the colonizers. This was the Native Americans or “Indians” as Columbus considered them because he mistakenly believed North America to be India. I never knew that this was the origin for the name “Indians” before reading this decisive statement. I simply knew that it was considered to be more politically correct to say “Native Americans.” Native American is indeed a more accurate term that describes this type of culture according to the book. Various types of Native Americans and tribes existed in the new found area. However, differing viewpoints and the language barrier proved to be problematic (Gutek, 2013, p. 2).

Among the mistreatment of Native Americans also came the change in how settlers viewed certain aspects. The settlers brought with them diseases and also harsh responses to the Native Americans. Although the American Indians were already settled here, the colonists tried to deprive them of the land and control resources (Gutek, 2013, p. 3). To answer the question of "Who does what to whom, when, where, how, and why?" the settlers were extremely harsh and condescending to the Native Americans in the new found settlements over the course of the colonial era. They did this in respect to the various diseases they transmitted to the Native Americans and also by trying to either “save, civilize, or eliminate” them (Gutek, 2013, p. 3).

The issue of property ownership was also a varying viewpoint based on the fact that Europeans thought it was an undeniable right to own land while Native Americans only used the resources of the land – no one “owned” it. Overall, other cultures thought of the Native Americans as a dominated group that was not up to the same standards as others.

European Educational Antecedents

One of the interesting concepts that I discovered in the book would be that settlers wanted to re-create versions of schools that they had known in Europe. This intrigued me to a point because the concept of coming to America was for a “new beginning” of sorts. Instead the settlers were trying to duplicate the schooling system. As in Europe, these school systems reflected gender and financial rankings. Although girls and boys attended primary schools, only males attended Latin grammar schools (Gutek, 2013, p. 4-5).

On a personal note, I am very glad that this is no longer the case. Otherwise, I would not be completing this assignment because I am a female in the position of obtaining a higher education on the collegiate level. This section was the most interesting to me because it discussed how only upper-class boys attended preparatory schools called Latin grammar schools. Today, both male and females are present in a higher classroom. On page six is states that, “only young men went to college.” I am tremendously glad this is no longer the case. Women are not just the minority but in some areas or majors the majority.

The Englanders operated under European models that included the “basic curriculum of reading, writing, spelling, athematic, and religion” (Gutek, 2013, p. 6). Noticeably, this contradicts with present day “separation of church and state” where religion is kept separately from teachings within the school. This is connected to my present life based on the fact that the public wants schools to be religiously unbiased. Some schools do not consider it “Christmas Break” but instead “Winter Break.” Although this country was founded on religious components, the present day systems do not want to reflect religion in any way for fear of being bias. The Pledge of Alliance has even become controversial in some school systems.

Regional Differences in American Colonial Education

This section stated that colonies along the coast had their own kind of school approaches to a certain extent. On a personal reflection, this reminded me of the various different types of state standards that have been recently transformed and united as the “Common Core State Standards.” This is an approach that people want to take in education in order to be more unified and on the same page. However, arguments and differences of opinions are going to arise, as with any new implementation of this size. Since transportation was limited in the colonial era, it was undeniable that there would be isolating differences among colonies within these new geographic locations (Gutek, 2013, p. 6)


New England

Even within New England, various viewpoints were present as to how to “educate” and understand a child. Calvinism, Puritan’s views, and the early educational laws all seem very extreme in today’s present world. However, there are still private schools that are funded from various resources and have religious aspects engrained in their curriculum. This section reminded me of the various approaches that private schools have to educating students. I am not saying these approaches are any less effective, I am just stating they are different than what is outlined in public school systems today.

The Southern Colonies

All though “The Southern Colonies” were largely grouped in one large cluster, these locations were isolated and could be very different from one another. This has always intrigued me and has previously led me to believe that Southern Colonies did not seem to value schooling as much as the Northern. However, that is not the exact case. Southern Colonies were just "different" from the Northern colonies due to a variety of reasons; one being their agricultural and economic differences and also locations being dispersed further. 


The Middle Atlantic Colonies

While reading this section it seemed that the Mid-Atlantic Colonies were more diverse in economy and other aspects as well. Schooling was considered to be something that was established and used accordingly (Gutek, 2013, p. 21). 


Conclusion

Overall, it seems to answer the "Who does what to whom, when, where, how, and why?" would follow this pattern:

The settlers who came here to pursue religious freedom and broaden their horizons mistreated the Native Americans by trying to convert them and also push them out of the land already claimed. They did this based on the previous teachings from England and believed that everyone had the right to own land. However, the American Indians did not want to “own” the land, but simply use the resources and then move to a different location. This all occurred through the late fifteenth century and even until the fight for independence in the late 1700’s. This occurred all over the newly founded land in what is now considered the United States of America. The colonists were also harsh towards another group of people considered “Enslaved Africans.” They were brought here on slave ships in horrific conditions and then viewed as “property instead of persons” (Gutek, 2013, p. 18). Slave owners did this to keep up their economic growth through the agricultural systems and have free labor intact. After reading this chapter the early settlers of America started a chain of events that led to vicious actions and inconsolable incidents throughout the nation. The educational system differed greatly depending on what area or religious background you were from. School settings are dramatically different than when they first appeared in this nation.  


Reference:


Gutek, G. L. (2013). Education in the colonial era. An Historical Introduction to American Education. 3rd ed. (pp. 1-34). Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press Inc.


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