Elizabethan Education

Question 1

Education

Answer 1

Protestantism encouraged more people to become literate so they’d be able to read the bible in their own language.
However for most people, education remained limited by place in social hierarchy. For rural farmers, little had changed.

Question 2

Education for children of nobility

Answer 2

Learnt about foreign languages, history, philosophy, government and theology.
Daughters learnt music, dancing, needlework, horse riding and archery
Sons learnt horse riding, archery, fencing, swimming and wrestling: only thought fit for men.
Would all be sent to another noble household to finish education where they’d learn what their futures involved

Question 3

Humanists

Answer 3

Believed education wasn’t just important for practical reasons but also studied work of ancient philosophers and mathematicians to better understand the world. Believed education was important to fill potential as humans.

Question 4

Grammar schools

Answer 4

42 developed in 1560s and 30 in 1570s
For boys considered bright
Sons of gentry, professionals and wealthy business owners
Fees depended on how much land was owned by boy’s family; some lower class could get in if they showed promise

Question 5

Education for poor children

Answer 5

No formal education. They learned from their families working on the land or in the home. They needed to bring in income for their family.

Question 6

Education for well off boys

Answer 6

Petty schools age 4-8: (reading, writing and arithmetic)

Grammar schools age 8-14: (latin, greek, french, ancient and classical history, philosophy, archery, wrestling, chess and running)

Question 7

Education for well off girls

Answer 7

Dame schools or educated at home by mothers.

Reading, writing, arithmetic, music, dancing, needlework, horse riding and archery

Question 8

Education for Upper class(noble) boys

Answer 8

Private tutors until early teens (latin, greek, french, ancient and classical history)

University (oxford or cambridge) from 14 or 15
Inns of court in London for lawyers

Question 9

Education for Upper class (noble)girls

Answer 9

Private tutor until early teens
Then sent to another Noble household to complete their education
Make useful social contacts and perfect skills expected of them as a noble woman

Question 10

Summary of education

Answer 10

Still reflected social hierarchy. Education wasn’t for nurturing talent and ambition or social mobility. It aimed to prepare you for the life you were expected to live.