What Is a Grammar School?

Early grammar schools often merged children of various ages.

Grammar school--oftentimes called elementary school in the U.S.--provides anywhere from the first four to the first seven years of a child's education, depending upon local classification and division of schools. Conventionally, the grammar school has endeavored to teach students the fundamental academic subjects: mathematics, history/social studies, science and language arts. Some focus upon other artistic subjects--music and painting, for instance. The late 20th century, however, saw a blooming controversy, carried into the 21st century, over the canon of approved subjects to be taught in grammar school.

History

The first grammar school was founded in the 17th century in Boston, Massachusetts. The premise behind the school's beginning was to ensure educated, erudite leaders for the community after the learned pastors and preachers, educated in Europe, passed away. Without the educational resources of Europe, which included centuries-old seminaries and schools for the religious and nobility, a more publicly accessible institution was necessary. Though early grammar schools were intended principally for the best families, they gradually accepted more classes of students as western social norms shifted to egalitarian democracy.

Curricula

In the early centuries of the New World, grammar schools focused on their namesake. The educational tradition of the medieval period, the liberal arts, had established grammar as the first and most foundational principle of all education. This tradition was carried on to the New World, and grammar students were taught Latin and Greek to firmly ground their linguistic abilities. Eventually, mathematics and science became more pervasively found within the core to accelerate progress. To educate political leaders, history became a cornerstone. Social functionality has been the basis for subjects' inclusion in grammar school curricula.

Teaching Methods

Various teaching methods have been employed in grammar schools throughout the ages. Simple lecturing, as was used prominently in the early 20th century, particularly within the widespread Catholic schools, focused upon repetition and explanation, with little class interaction. Methods more common to the later 20th and early 21st centuries sought to engage the students more interactively, with group projects, discussion sessions and emphasis on creativity. Oftentimes the environment dictated the range of possible teaching methods: better funded schools could afford more teachers and smaller classrooms, and therefore made interaction possible, whereas classes of 70 or more students could not be taught in any method other than lecture.

Theories/Speculation

There are various disputes as to how grammar school education ought to be enacted. The conventional model influenced by John Dewey, most widely employed in the West, particularly in the U.S., focuses upon developing students to be productive in society. Growing in popularity is the Multiple Intelligences model, articulated by Howard Gardner, which emphasizes allowing students to develop according to their unique talents. Others advocate a return to classical education and the efficacy of the liberal arts, even at young ages.

Purpose

It is universally agreed upon that the first years of a student's education are the most important for successfully engaging not just intellectual activity later in life, but all social matters. Language is such an important part of man's existence in the world, so grammar has always retained significant importance in primary education.

References

• "The School and Society"; John Dewey; 1915
• "The Intercollegiate Review"; The New Classical Schooling; Peter Leithart; Spring 2008