How Were People Educated When There Were No Schools?

Ever wonder how people learned before classrooms and homework deadlines? 

Formal schooling as we know it is a relatively new invention. Schools weren't always like they are today. Kids learned differently until the late 1800s and early 1900s when the adoption of public school systems truly began.

So, how did people gain knowledge and skills before the rise of formal education?

The truth is that learning was a much more integrated and hands-on experience. Childaren spent their days alongside their families and communities, gaining knowledge through observation, storytelling, and practical application. 

Whereas, the traditional methods of education, focused on rote memorization and obedience, served to create a workforce conditioned to follow orders. 

Proponents of this view suggest high grades weren't necessarily a sign of future success, but rather an indicator of someone who excelled at following instructions i.e. good employees. 

In this post, we will discuss life before public schools, the history of the introduction of public schools in the U.S., and how the current formal education system is contrary to the natural learning abilities of a child. 

The History of Public Schools 

Imagine a world without classrooms!

Back in the day, learning looked way different.

Schools weren't a thing, so people learned the skills they needed to survive in their everyday lives. Children learned things like hunting, farming, and building a house just by watching and helping out their families.  

There were no textbooks or tests, just knowledge passed down from adults through watching and doing. 

So, how did children's education transform from hands-on skill learning to performing standardized tests? 

Frederick William I of Prussia - the Pioneer of Standardised Education 

In 1717, Prussia's King Frederick William I had a vision: a society with efficient, literate subjects. 

But hold on a sec, this wasn't about sparking a love of learning! 

Frederick William's vision of education was more like a boot camp for future soldiers. Believing education was key, he established a system focused on creating loyal, obedient soldiers.

It was the first widespread formal education system.

Imagine dark, factory-like buildings filled with rows of students sitting for long periods.

Standardized testing, restricted playtime, and strict discipline were all part of this “education machine.”

Horace Mann and the Rise of Public Education in the U.S

Inspired by Prussia's system, Horace Mann, a Massachusetts leader, envisioned a different kind of public education for America and believed that all children, regardless of background, should have a chance to learn.

There was a catch, though.

These new schools focused on getting good grades and learning skills that would help students get jobs. It wasn't all about creativity and exploration, but more about preparing them for the workforce.

This focus on job preparation in public schools continued for a long time, shaping the way generations learned.

But what about before classrooms became the norm?

How did children acquire knowledge and skills in those earlier times?

Before Classrooms: Where Did Kids Learn?

Before public education became the norm, children learned in a variety of ways, quite different from what we experience today. Here's how the kids used to learn before classrooms. 

Learning at Home

It was common for children to be homeschooled, picking up valuable skills from their parents and older siblings.

Imagine a child learning to farm and care for animals from his dad, while the other might learn cooking, sewing, and gardening from their mothers.

Even without schools, children explored science.

Imagine a young boy stargazing with his dad, learning constellations like Galileo Galilei (who discovered moons of Jupiter).

Helping parents with chores offered practical lessons: girls in kitchens learned about chemistry (like Marie Curie, who didn't attend formal school until her teens) while boys building with fathers grasped basic physics.

Homes weren't just for chores!

Kids learned by observing nature, tinkering with tools, and helping with tasks like carpentry or farming.

Think of Benjamin Franklin, who experimented with electricity as a teenager without attending a university.

Curiosity, not classrooms, was the spark for many scientific minds.

Church Schools

Also known as Sunday schools, initially established for religious education, these provided essential literacy skills for disadvantaged children.

Local Schools

Towns and communities came together to organize small schools where children could learn basic subjects like reading, writing, and math.

Dame Schools

These were one-room schools run by women in their homes, offering basic literacy skills to young children.

Kids Learned by Doing 

This informal approach to education emphasized practical skills necessary for daily life.  Children weren't just memorizing facts from textbooks. They were actively involved in the family business, learning essential skills for survival.

The Standardization of Minds: Did Schools Become Training Grounds for Corporations?

Before public schools, children primarily learned practical skills from their families, fostering a hands-on education that instilled valuable knowledge for everyday life.

However, with the rise of agriculture and industrialization, there emerged a shift in the purpose of education.

Rather than cultivating well-rounded individuals capable of critical thinking and creativity, the focus shifted towards producing efficient workers for the burgeoning industries.

This transition led to concerns about whether formal education was prioritizing skills necessary for personal growth and societal contribution or merely conditioning students to become compliant workers.

Critics argue that schools were subtly molding students into "corporate slaves," emphasizing obedience over independent thought and reducing individuals to mere cogs in the industrial machine.

This perspective draws parallels between the regimented nature of schooling and the exploitative aspects of child labor, raising questions about the true purpose and efficacy of modern education systems.

Peter Gray, an American psychology researcher and scholar mentions in Psychology Today’s August 2008 issue:

• In pre-agricultural societies, kids learned survival skills (hunting, etc.) by exploring. Not work, but necessary learning.

• After that, farming required more repetitive work, and even kids could help. Gray suggests this influenced the idea of learning as "work" for children.

• Traditional schools focus on obedience, memorizing things, and sitting still for long periods. This might be similar to how factories wanted their workers to behave.

• According to Peter Gray, schools adopted the power-assertive methods used in fields and factories, making learning feel like child labor.

The question remains: have schools, in their pursuit of standardized skills, inadvertently stifled the inherent curiosity and critical thinking of children?

Next week, we'll dive deeper into this debate, exploring the potential drawbacks of the modern education system and discussing alternative approaches that can empower children's natural curiosity and individuality.

Stay tuned!

🛠️ Tools & Resources

REAL Science Odyssey : REAL Science Odyssey offers a complete, secular, hands-on science curriculum for various grade levels, written by experts and engaging for students.

Socratica - YouTube- Caltech brainiacs break down complex maths, programming, and science for young minds on Socratica. (Emphasises the focus on complex concepts and experienced educators)

Splash Learn -  Splash Learn makes learning math and reading fun and engaging for kids ages 3-11. Engaging games, rewards, and progress tracking keep young minds curious and motivated.

Starfall - Starfall offers engaging content specifically designed for young learners. This app serves as a valuable tool for homeschooling families, supplementing existing curriculums or providing a platform for independent learning.

Code Spark: CodeSpark ignites a passion for coding in young minds. Through creative challenges presented in a game-like setting, this app sparks curiosity and promotes the fundamentals of programming.