Edication Flashcards
What percentage of men could read or write by the end of Elizabeth’s reign?
30%
Fewer than 10% of women could read or write.
Who benefited the most from educational opportunities during Elizabeth’s reign?
Boys from well-off families
Educational opportunities increased for all classes, but the upper classes saw university education as essential.
What types of schools were available for young children ages 4-7?
Parish/Petty Schools
These schools taught reading and writing as preparation for grammar school.
What was the primary focus of grammar schools?
Education independently of the Church
They educated sons of gentry, merchants, and yeomen from ages 7-15.
How many new grammar schools were founded during Elizabeth’s reign?
72
Demand for places increased from all social classes.
What subjects were taught at universities like Oxford and Cambridge?
Grammar, rhetoric, logic, mathematics, music, theology, astronomy, geometry
Only after this could an undergraduate specialize.
What distinguished a gentleman’s education from that of lower classes?
Ability to speak and write ‘proper English’
This was a key indicator of social class distinction.
What was the role of private tutors for the nobility’s sons?
First educated at home
They typically went to university at age 15.
Fill in the blank: The earliest independent or public schools were ______ and Eton.
Winchester
True or False: Most schooling was free during Elizabeth’s reign.
False
Even schools for lower classes often charged for materials.
What was the curriculum focus of public schools for ruling-class boys?
Conduct, courtesy, and etiquette
These were combined with the methods of grammar schools.
What was the main reason for the increase in university students during Elizabeth’s reign?
Realization of the importance of higher education
All classes understood that education was key to social mobility.
Who were the majority of students graduating from Oxford and Cambridge?
Nobility and gentry
Approximately 1/3rd came from these classes, with others from lower classes.
Fill in the blank: Bright boys from the lower classes could attend ______ school.
grammar
What was a common method of education for lower classes?
Taught to read and write by their masters
This often occurred where they worked or lived.
