Most children of the 17th century were homeschooled right at the kitchen table by their mothers. The boys learning a profession such as computing skills attended elementary school. Young men training for the professions of minister, lawyer, or doctor attend a Latin grammar school. There they learned Latin, Hebrew, and Greek, the sciences and classical literature. In every school, however, the Bible was the first textbook.

Every child was taught to read the Scriptures. They knew the 10 Commandments, the Beautitudes, the Lord’s prayer by heart. Most children could recite the 23rd Psalm. Early colonial homes produced godly children who grew up to become strong leaders, workers and people of faith. Today our country cries out for this type of moral leadership. Yet no public school in America can utter prayers or scriptures such as the 10 Commandments.

Only six years after the WInthrop Co. landed in Massachusetts, a godly man and lover of learning, John Harvard, gave half of his estate, and all his library to start the first college in 1636. All the professors had to confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

To the Puritan Colonial mind it was important to have the “mind of Christ.” As a practical and moral people, they valued the ability to read, write, and converse and conduct their affairs befitting a Christian citizen of a Christian nation.

Ponder the words written which described the goals of our very first college, Harvard: “Let every student be plainly instructed to consider well, the main end of this life, and studies is the know God and Jesus Christ … as the only foundation of all knowledge and learning.”

Today look at the moral decline of American education. It is easy to guess why it happened.

Marcel LeRoi

Belgrade