The History of Schools

People have been teaching and learning for a very long time. The first schools were created thousands of years ago in ancient civilizations. Back then, only a few children got to go to school. Today, kids all around the world go to school to learn reading, math, and much more.

Ancient Schools

Some of the first schools were in Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. Students learned reading, writing, and math. In ancient Greece, boys went to school starting at age seven. Girls usually learned at home. In ancient China, students studied the teachings of Confucius.

Modern Schools

For a long time, only rich families could send their children to school. In the 1800s, many countries began offering free public schools for all children. Students sat in rows and learned from a teacher at the front of the room. Today, schools use books, computers, and many fun activities to help kids learn.

Fun Facts

• In ancient Mesopotamia, students wrote their homework on clay tablets.
• The first public school in America was the Boston Latin School, founded in 1635.
• In medieval Europe, schools were often run by churches and monasteries.

Did You Know?

In some ancient schools, students who made mistakes were hit with a stick as punishment.