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It was usually only the sons from rich families that went to school. There were three main types of schools in the 14th century: the elementary song-school, the monastic school and the grammar school.
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The elementary song-school was usually attached to a large church in a town. At this type of school young boys were taught to sing Latin hymns and songs. If there was an educated priest available the boys might learn how to read and write.
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Monastic schools were for boys being trained for the church. The boys were taught by monks and all lessons were concerned with religious education. Monastic schools sometimes taught local boys from poor families. In exchange for lessons these boys worked as servants in the monastery
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Grammar schools were usually part of a cathedral or large church. The main concern of these schools was to teach boys Latin grammar. Grammar schools were very similar to the schools established by the Romans. As well as grammar the boys were taught logic (the art of arguing) and rhetoric (the art of public speaking). They also followed the Roman example of not spending much time on subjects such as mathematics and science.
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Oxford and Cambridge were the two main centres of learning in England. Founded in the 1444, these two universities took boys as soon as they were considered to be ready for advanced studies. This meant that some of the boys were as young as thirteen.
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In 1467 Elizabeth supplied the money for the foundation of Clare College, Cambridge. This provided an education for twenty scholars. As well as donating a considerable amount of money she also became involved in deciding what the students should study. Students at Clare College attended lectures on law, medicine, religion and the arts
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Elizabeth de Clare disagreed with the view that serfs should not go to school. She arranged for a large number of people who lived in her villages to be educated. She also paid for those boys who showed talent to be educated at Oxford and Cambridge universities.
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Major changes in education began to occur in the 13th century. Schools for young children opperated in Germany during the 13th century, even in the smallest towns. The town schools were called Bürgerschulen in contrast to Klosterschulen (maintained by the church).
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There were a series of well-documented disputes between church and town authorities (“school wars”) over the right to control education. Some of them went as far as the Imperial court. The senior clergy (who were almost always of noble birth) were none too keen to see the rise of an educated merchant class. As things turned out they were probably right to be worried. [Carter]
