Education

In 1640, about 1 in every 250 had attended a university in England. The first school opened at Boston in 1635. The fist college, Harvard, was founded in 1636. In the Southern colonies there was little concern for education. The first Southern college was William and Mary and it opened in 1693.

Girls were usually taught no academic subjects beyond writing and reading, but were instructed in sewing, embroidery, and moral conduct. Boys were taught arithmetic in elementary school. Some families who wanted their children to rad and write taught them at home. But, books were expensive, and many families only owned a Bible.

Some Young adults and children joined other households as apprentices to skilled workers or professional people to learn trades or professions. Families that took on an apprentice signed a contract promising to provide the apprentice with room and board and the skills of a trade or profession. In exchange, they received faithful service form the apprentice for a certain period of time.