Mid-Atlantic Education
Education in the Mid-Atlantic colonies was often still religious in nature, but it was much more religiously diverse than New England. While New England was predominately Puritan, the Mid-Atlantic region was made up of Quakers, Baptists, Anglicans, and other denominations. These denominations each started their own schools leading to much diversity within the region. Like the Puritans of New England, the Quakers, too, started the first public schools in the region.
Another unique feature of Mid-Atlantic education was the practicality of its nature. Apprenticeship education was extremely popular in this region of varying trades and industries. Through apprenticeships, children learned a particular trade from a craftsman rather than attending a formal school. Children would work under the supervision of the master craftsman for an agreed upon amount of time, and would often learn some basic literacy skills along the way. Apprenticeships were more common among lower and middle class families who did not have the means to send their children to Latin schools.
Apprenticeships - This site, created by Colonial Williamsburg, explains the details of how colonial apprenticeship worked.
The video below demonstrates a number of colonial trades which a child might be apprenticed to.
Another unique feature of Mid-Atlantic education was the practicality of its nature. Apprenticeship education was extremely popular in this region of varying trades and industries. Through apprenticeships, children learned a particular trade from a craftsman rather than attending a formal school. Children would work under the supervision of the master craftsman for an agreed upon amount of time, and would often learn some basic literacy skills along the way. Apprenticeships were more common among lower and middle class families who did not have the means to send their children to Latin schools.
Apprenticeships - This site, created by Colonial Williamsburg, explains the details of how colonial apprenticeship worked.
The video below demonstrates a number of colonial trades which a child might be apprenticed to.