Massachusetts Bay School Law (1642)
Forasmuch as the good education of children is of singular behoof
and benefit to any Common-wealth; and wheras many parents & masters are too
indulgent and negligent of their duty in that kinde. It is therfore ordered that
the Select men of everie town, in the severall precincts and quarters where they
dwell, shall have a vigilant eye over their brethren & neighbours, to see,
first that none of them shall suffer so much barbarism in any of their families
as not to indeavour to teach by themselves or others, their children &
apprentices so much learning as may inable them perfectly to read the english
tongue, & knowledge of the Capital Lawes: upon penaltie of twentie shillings
for each neglect therin. Also that all masters of families doe once a week (at
the least) catechize their children and servants in the grounds & principles
of Religion, & if any be unable to doe so much: that then at the least they
procure such children or apprentices to learn some short orthodox catechism
without book, that they may be able to answer unto the questions that shall be
propounded to them out of such catechism by their parents or masters or any of
the Select men when they shall call them to a tryall of what they have learned
of this kinde. And further that all parents and masters do breed & bring up
their children & apprentices in some honest lawful calling, labour or
imployment, either in husbandry, or some other trade profitable for themselves,
and the Common-wealth if they will not or cannot train them up in learning to
fit them for higher imployments. And if any of the Select men after admonition
by them given to such masters of families shal finde them still negligent of
their dutie in the particulars aforementioned, wherby children and servants
become rude, stubborn & unruly; the said Select men with the help of two
Magistrates, or the next County court for that Shire, shall take such children
or apprentices from them & place them with some masters for years (boyes
till they come to twenty one, and girls eighteen years of age compleat) which
will more strictly look unto, and force them to submit unto government according
to the rules of this order, if by fair means and former instructions they will
not be drawn into it.