by Eleanor O'Donnell

Created on: August 28, 2008

During the Elizabethan era (1558-1603), formal education was largely reserved for middle and upper class males. In some instances, daughters of nobility would also receive a formal education. And as with any rule, there would be the occasional general exception where a lower class man would insist on ensuring that all of his children, including the girls, received at least a basic education though this was not generally considered to be acceptable.

Basic education would begin in the home for children of both sexes born to all classes. Lower class children would be directed by their parents in etiquette and household chores and middle and upper class children would in some instances also benefit from the addition of a housekeeper or governor's tutorage from an early age. Children of both sexes from all classes would be tutored to adhere to their place in life and to know what their life goals were. Religion was a major part of society in the 16th and 17th centuries and children would be raised to fear and abide by god's law. Sadly for girls this included being submissive to their male counterparts from an early age though men were expected to care properly for girls and not simply treat them as servants.

Girls would be tutored from an early age to believe they were inferior to men and put on this earth only to serve them. Bible quotes would be drilled into young girls to ensure they understood their place in life and their fathers would endeavour to bring them up be attractive marriage propositions in the hope of lessening the dowry commanded by prospective husbands. Part of tutoring girls to grow up with good marriage prospects did at least include special tutorage in music and dance for a lucky few. It is important to note that although society placed women below men, they still enjoyed class distinction.

From the age of 5 to 7, boys who did not receive home tutoring would attend a petty or dame school as they were sometimes known. These schools were often held in a teacher's private residence. It was extremely rare for a girl to be included in these classes though it was not unheard of in small rural locations for a girl to be included at her Father's insistence. The class would receive basic tutorage on the basics of how to read and write as well as fundamental religious and discipline lessons.

The Elizabethans would often make use of a Hornbook during their early studies as this was their form of an early text book. It was so called because it was a parchment

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