Education on the frontier.

 How is it possible that Americans had a higher literacy rate in the frontier days than it does now?   Stephen Mansfield explains in his intriguing book Lincoln's Battle With God.

We should remember that the early English settlers in the New World left England accompanied by fears that they would pursue their "errand into the wilderness" and became barbarians in the process. Loved ones at home wondered how a people could cross and ocean and live in the wilderness without losing the literacy, the learning, and the faith that defined them. The early colonists came determined to defy these fears. They brought books, printing presses, and teachers with them and made the founding of schools a priority. Puritans founded Boston in 1630 and established Harvard College within six years. After ten years they had already printed the first book in the colonies, the Bay Psalm Book. many more would follow. The American colonists were so devoted to education--inspired as they were by their Protestant insistence upon biblical literacy and by their hope of converting and educating the native--that they created a near-miraculous culture of learning.
        This was achieved through an educational free market. Colonial society offered "Dame schools, " Latin grammar schools, tutors for hire, what would today be called "home schools," church schools, schools for the poor, and colleges for the gifted and well-to-do.
We should remember that the early English settlers in the New World left England accompanied by fears that they would pursue their "errand into the wilderness" and became barbarians in the process. Loved ones at home wondered how a people could cross and ocean and live in the wilderness without losing the literacy, the learning, and the faith that defined them. The early colonists came determined to defy these fears. They brought books, printing presses, and teachers with them and made the founding of schools a priority. Puritans founded Boston in 1630 and established Harvard College within six years. After ten years they had already printed the first book in the colonies, the Bay Psalm Book. many more would follow. The American colonists were so devoted to education--inspired as they were by their Protestant insistence upon biblical literacy and by their hope of converting and educating the native--that they created a near-miraculous culture of learning.
        This was achieved through an educational free market. Colonial society offered "Dame schools, " Latin grammar schools, tutors for hire, what would today be called "home schools," church schools, schools for the poor, and colleges for the gifted and well-to-do. Enveloping these institutions of learning was a wider culture that prized knowledge as an aid to godliness. Books were cherished and well-read. A respected minister might have thousands of them. Sermons were long and learned. Newspapers were devoured, and elevated discussion of ideas filled taverns and parlors. Citizens formed gatherings for the "improvement of the mind"--debate societies and reading clubs and even sewing circles at which the latest books from England were read.
   The intellectual achievements of colonial America were astonishing. Lawrence Cremin, dean of American education historians, estimated the literacy rate of the period at between 80 and 90 percent. Benjamin Franklin taught himself five languages and was not thought exceptional. Jefferson taught himself half a dozen, including Arabic. George Washington was unceasingly embarrassed by his lack of formal education, and yet readers of his journal today marvel at his intellect and wonder why he ever felt insecure..It was nothing for a man--or in some cases a woman-- the learn algebra, geometry, navigation, science, logic, grammar, and history entirely through self-education. A seminarian was usually required to know Greek, Hebrew Latin, French, and German just to begin his studies , instruction which might take place in a log classroom and on a dirt floor.
        This culture of learning spilled over onto the American frontier. Through pioneers routinely moved beyond the reach of even basic education, as soon as the first buildings of a town were erected, so,too.were voluntary societies to foster intellectual life. Aside from schools for the young, there were debate  societies, discussion groups, lyceums, lecture associations, political clubs, and always, Bible societies. The level of learning these groups encouraged was astounding. the language of Shakespeare and classical literature--at the least Virgil, Plutarch, Cicero, and Homer-- so permeated the letters and journals of frontier Americans that modern readers have difficulty understanding that generation's literary metaphors. this meant that even a rustic Western settlement could serve as a kind of informal frontier university for the aspiring.
Enveloping these institutions of learning was a wider culture that prized knowledge as an aid to godliness. Books were cherished and well-read. A respected minister might have thousands of them. Sermons were long and learned. Newspapers were devoured, and elevated discussion of ideas filled taverns and parlors. Citizens formed gatherings for the "improvement of the mind"--debate societies and reading clubs and even sewing circles at which the latest books from England were read.
   The intellectual achievements of colonial America were astonishing. Lawrence Cremin, dean of American education historians, estimated the literacy rate of the period at between 80 and 90 percent. Benjamin Franklin taught himself five languages and was not thought exceptional. Jefferson taught himself half a dozen, including Arabic. George Washington was unceasingly embarrassed by his lack of formal education, and yet readers of his journal today marvel at his intellect and wonder why he ever felt insecure..It was nothing for a man--or in some cases a woman-- the learn algebra, geometry, navigation, science, logic, grammar, and history entirely through self-education. A seminarian was usually required to know Greek, Hebrew Latin, French, and German just to begin his studies , instruction which might take place in a log classroom and on a dirt floor.
        This culture of learning spilled over onto the American frontier. Through pioneers routinely moved beyond the reach of even basic education, as soon as the first buildings of a town were erected, so,too.were voluntary societies to foster intellectual life. Aside from schools for the young, there were debate  societies, discussion groups, lyceums, lecture associations, political clubs, and always, Bible societies. The level of learning these groups encouraged was astounding. the language of Shakespeare and classical literature--at the least Virgil, Plutarch, Cicero, and Homer-- so permeated the letters and journals of frontier Americans that modern readers have difficulty understanding that generation's literary metaphors. this meant that even a rustic Western settlement could serve as a kind of informal frontier university for the aspiring.