From left to right: Greek schools, and a Spartan School.
For the most of Greece, the purpose of education was to produce good citizens. Girls didn’t go to school, but stayed at home with their mothers until they were married. Only boys of the Upper Class attended school. In Athens, Corinth Argos, and many other cities, all citizens (remember, only men were citizens) were trained in music, art, literature, politics and trained to be soldiers. The Greek city of Sparta, however, had a very different approach to education. They sought to only teach the boys military skills that they would use when they became soldiers.
For example, in Athens, boys were taught at home until they were around six years old. They started to attend school at around 7 years old, where they learned to read, write, play various musical instruments, and sing. Additionally, they memorised various works of literature, and learnt how to give a persuasive speech and debate. Also, they studied science and maths. After high school, Greek children attended military school, to complete their education, and graduated when they were 20 years old. Girls didn’t attend schools, but were taught by their mothers at home. If their mothers could read and write, they passed the knowledge on to their children, whilst also teaching the girls how to cook, sew, and run a household.
However, education in Sparta was very different, with the main purpose being to produce and maintain a strong army. Sparta boys entered military school when they were about 6. They learnt how to read and write, but only very briefly as those skills were not considered important. Military school was brutal, with boys being beaten often, sleeping away from home in barracks, and going hungry. They were taught how to lie, steal, and not be caught. In the Spartan education system, nearly everything was based around war and battle.
Unlike those girls in other cities, girls went to school in Sparta. Their school was not as intense as the boys, but they were still taught to handle a weapon, wrestle, fist fight, and above all, to kill. If the men were away at war, the women believed that they must have the skills to defend the city.
For example, in Athens, boys were taught at home until they were around six years old. They started to attend school at around 7 years old, where they learned to read, write, play various musical instruments, and sing. Additionally, they memorised various works of literature, and learnt how to give a persuasive speech and debate. Also, they studied science and maths. After high school, Greek children attended military school, to complete their education, and graduated when they were 20 years old. Girls didn’t attend schools, but were taught by their mothers at home. If their mothers could read and write, they passed the knowledge on to their children, whilst also teaching the girls how to cook, sew, and run a household.
However, education in Sparta was very different, with the main purpose being to produce and maintain a strong army. Sparta boys entered military school when they were about 6. They learnt how to read and write, but only very briefly as those skills were not considered important. Military school was brutal, with boys being beaten often, sleeping away from home in barracks, and going hungry. They were taught how to lie, steal, and not be caught. In the Spartan education system, nearly everything was based around war and battle.
Unlike those girls in other cities, girls went to school in Sparta. Their school was not as intense as the boys, but they were still taught to handle a weapon, wrestle, fist fight, and above all, to kill. If the men were away at war, the women believed that they must have the skills to defend the city.