Dark Ages: Monastic Schools In The Middle Ages

"In 1330 only about 5% of the population could read or write." (Simkin 1). In the Dark Ages it was not very common for many of the poor people to be able to read or write. However, for the people who did go to school they would go to the elementary song-school, the monastic school and the grammar school. In some of the poorer countries today, some of the same circumstances apply. Monastic schools were a church school for boys. The most frequent topic was religion. Normally, the higher class boys would attend school here, but some places would frequently let poorer boys in (Britannica, 1). Another popular school in the middle ages was grammer school. Most of them taught Latin grammar, and grammar schools were most commonly found
in parts of cathedrals or large churches (Trueman, 1). Most schools were based from a church. In present day, we are not supposed to talk religion in our classes. The only way you really would talk about religion is if you went to a private religious school. However, in the dark ages it was the opposite. Most churches were the schools they went to, and the subject they talked about the most was religion. Paper was not common and even unknown in some places, and the only other thing they had for writing was parchment and not a lot of people had enough money to go buy it. By the 1100’s, Charlemagne made it mandatory for Cathedrals to open a school and allow free education for the people who couldn’t afford it (Copts, 38-44). He thought that if he wanted his people to survive they would all need to be educated. Charlemagne and Alfred the Great wanted the people to have an education. They both done different things to help improve the education system. (Copts, 38-44) Around the 1100’s, it is said the first university in Bologna, Italy was founded. Many of the universities from then on were founded by rulers. Most people who wanted to go to college would travel many miles to be taught by the best. Some people started colleges at fourteen or fifteen. The colleges back then were learning what we would learn in elementary school. Granted, we have made many advancements since then so we should know more now. However, in college, they learn reading, writing, religion, speech and logic. If they got far enough past the basics they would go into properties of numbers, geometry, music and astronomy (Munro, 1). Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands were the first to have Municipal schools. Even as the school sizes began to grow the most popular subject in school was religion. In present day, we hear about how some countries will not allow girls to attend school. They believe that girls should learn how to take care of the house and family at an early age. However, this was not the case in the dark ages. In some places, they did not want the boys to attend school. Most boys stayed home working with their fathers (Trueman, 1). The only girls who were educated were taught at home by a private teacher or would be taught by another nobleman.
In some of the poorer countries today, some girls are not aloud to go to school; they stay home and learn how to take care of the house. This is close to what happened in the dark ages. The only difference is the girls would go to school to learn about how to take care of the house. Whereas, now they just stay home and do it. When they went to school they would become literate in Latin. Some of the more wealthier families would have private lessons for their daughter in music, painting, and medicine (Trueman,
1). The wealthier boys stayed home until they were seven learning to become literate.
When they turned eight they were to be able to assist the Lord. If they were able to fulfill their duties helping the kind he would grant them free schooling. However, it was not the schooling we would think of today. When he sent them to school they learned to ride, hunt, sing and dance. At the private chapel they would educate you on religion and basic subjects you would learn in school (Copts, 38-44). The poorer families did not have this opportunity. They did not get the option of going to school when they turned eight. They were told they had to ask permission from the lord. Then, if he gave you the opportunity, you were aloud to go. If they were caught going to school without permission of the lord, their family was fined. The reason behind giving them a punishment was because the Lord didn’t want to many of the peasants to become educated. He feared that if they became educated they would question the way certain things were done (Copts,
38-44). In present day, we can go around and shadow someone's day at work; see what the workforce is like and see if we like to do the things they like to do. This is called an apprenticeship and it started in the middle ages. They would allow to follow someone around and learn what they did for they day. In the middle ages they would not pay you for the apprenticeship, but they would supply a room for you. Also, they would have to grant you the opportunity to go with them. You could not always go when you wanted to. You would have to get someone who allowed you to follow them around and learn about their job for the day (Donn, 1).
Today the adult literacy rate is 84% (Crawly, 1). In our country, school is not much of an option anymore. Even though we have made many advancements since the dark ages, some countries today still have some of the same standards.