Reflection # 7

Reflection Paper#7: Describe the threefold approach to education in the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia e.g. homeschooling, apprenticeship and temple education.


Education in the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia was passed on through three different methods. After a child had learned basic skills and had been instilled with their parents morals and values, they would continue further homeschooling or enroll in either an apprenticeship or temple education. The boys and girls of ancient civilizations followed disparate journeys in education and life. The girls usually only received basic home training of behavior and ideals. While the boys would get further education in the vocation that they chose or the vocation that was chosen for them. Boys usually continued the family business or profession with the permission of the king. Education in Egypt and Mesopotamia was executed through homeschooling, apprenticeship and temple education.


Homeschooling was practiced by a majority of the people in ancient civilizations. Boys would learn from imitating their fathers at work. For instance, a farmer would bring his son to work with him around the age of nine and teach him everything he knows about the trade, until the day that his son becomes a man and can work alongside his father. Girls were taught by their mothers to cook, clean, dance and maintain religious rituals. All men and women in ancient civilization had to prepare their kids, except the king, he was the only person that did not have to tutor his own sons. Homeschooling was the way that fathers continued their legacies by replacing themselves with there sons.


Another method of education in ancient civilizations was the apprenticeship. An apprenticeship is different from formal education. An apprenticeship involves imitation and simulation, while formal education deals with more understanding and comprehension. On the job training was common and needed in ancient civilization because not everyone could read. 

The last approach to education in ancient civilizations was temple education. To learn to read and write, certain privileged boys would have the opportunity to attend classes at their temple. Each student would practice writing on clay tablets and study arithmetic. The lucky kids that were able to attend a temple school grew up to work in high level positions like scribes, doctors and priests. In essence temple education represents our first schools.


Education in ancient civilizations like Egypt and Mesopotamia used three main methods of education; homeschooling, apprenticeships and temple schools.