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Early 1600's #1
During the 1600’s, English Protestants seeking religious freedoms traveled to America. They brought with them the belief that reading should be for the purpose of religious training. The goal was for “them to read the Word of God for themselves. This religious motive was the one that directed and controlled reading instruction in England at the time the early setters migrated to America” (Smith, 2002, p.11). -
Massachusetts' Law #1
Massachusetts began the movement of putting a law into place to guarantee a teacher in growing towns to ensure children learned to read and write. “It is therefore ordered that every township in this jurisdiction, after the Lord hath increased them to the number of fifty householders, shall then forthwith appoint one within their town to teach all such children as shall resort to him to write and read” (Smith, 2002, p.12). -
The Protestant Tutor #1
The Protestant Tutor was the first primer printed in America. The textbook was heavily filled with religious items such as the Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer (Smith, 2002, p. 16,17). -
The New England Primer #1
The New England Primer, by Benjamin Harris, was “the first reading textbook specifically designed for the American colonies” (Smith, 2002, p. 17). This popular book included biblical selections, as well as religious verses written by Harris himself. -
A New Guide to the English Tongue #1
A New Guide to the English Tongue began the trend of including secular, as well as religious materials (Smith, 2002, p. 25). -
An Independent Nation #1
“The break with Great Britain and the establishment of an independent nation were the final incidents which caused politics to replace theology as the center of intellectual interest” (Smith, 2002, p. 33). The purpose of reading education experienced a shift towards morality and nationalism, as opposed to a religious focus. Additionally, content in readers and teaching methods changed for the purpose of unifying the American language. -
The North American Reader #1
A new era of American written and published textbooks were being written and produced. Though The North American Reader was 498 pages long, it only devoted 7 pages to religious content. Major themes included patriotism and character education (Smith, 2002, p.50).