Differences in Teaching Styles

“Young children too may die…” (The New England Primer 129). When reading this statement it is difficult to comprehend that this is written in a children’s book. The New England Primer is the book that was used to teach Puritan students to read in the 1700’s. There are many differences in the way that students were taught in the 1700’s and how they are taught today. A few of these differences are; that in the 1700’s, being taught religion was more important than to gain actual knowledge, and learning to have obedience and morals was an important part of a child’s school day, the content of The New England Primer and other modern children’s books, as well as the ultimate reason for children learning to read is altogether different. Religion was the main focus of the reading in The New England Primer. Today, children are taught to read by using a list of ABC’s, and saying, “A is for Apple, B is for Boy…” and it is made so that it is easier for younger students to understand. The list of ABC’s in The New England Primer has the letter and then a picture next to it, but instead of having a word that would make it easier for the children to understand there is a sentence such as, “A – In Adam’s Fall/ We Sinned all, B – Thy Life to Mend/ This Book Attend…” (The New England Primer 128) but some were more appealing to the students (Kreilkamp), “The Cat doth play/ And after flay, Nightengales fing/ In Time of Spring” (The New England Primer 128). The students learned in the book through sin, disobedience, and death, instead of learning through things that children learn through today such as dogs, love, and happiness. All of the ABC’s sentences are about God and the Bible, so there is no room for the child to disagree with any part of the ABC’s. The children read about things such as, God’s Works, Fall of Adam, Jesus, Justification, Adoption, and Sanctification. These are things that are important for a child to learn, but also make it harder for them to read

Cited: Elliot, Emory. The Doctrine of Weaned Affections: In Search of Spiritual Milk. 9 Oct. 2008 . Kreilkamp, Ivan. The Content of Our Characters. Sept. 2001. . McMichael, George, and James Leonard. Anthology of American Literature. 9th ed. Vol. 1. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2006. McMichael, George, and James Leonard. "The New England Primer." Anthology of American Literature. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2006. 127-34. Watters, David H. "I spake as a child":Authority, Metaphor, and the New England Primer. University of New Hampshire. 9 Oct. 2008 .