...Massachusetts Bay Colony authorized the selectmen of the various towns to find out the ability of children " To read and understand the principles of religion and the Capital laws of the Country." Under this law, towns by their selectmen, or by special committees, frequently examined the children....

...the kind of education, and the minimum amount. Thus the law of 1642 said that the child must know how to read and understand the principles of religion and the capital laws. The law of 1647 went further, and required the towns in their corporate capacity to provide suitable...

...time of their parents and masters, and of their children, concerning their calling and employment of their children, especially of their ability to read...principles of religion and the capital laws of the country, and to impose flues upon all those who refuse to render such account to them when required ; and they...

...number of them shall have power to take account, from time to time, of all parents and masters, and of their children, especially of their ability to read...the principles of religion and the capital laws of this country, and to impose fines upon such as shall refuse to render such account to them when they...

...number of them shall have power to take account, from time to time, of all parents and masters, and of their children, especially of their ability to read...princi•ples of religion and the capital laws of this country, and to impose fines upon such as shall refuse to render such account to them when they...

...number of them shall have power to take account, from time to time, of all parents and masters, and of their children, especially of their ability to read...the principles of religion and the capital laws of this country, and to impose fines upon such as shall refuse to render such account to them when they...

...time of all parents and masters, and of their children, concerning their calling and employment of their children, especially of their ability to read...the principles of religion and the capital laws of this country; and they shall have power to put forth as apprentices the children of such as they shall...

...taking account, from time to time, of all parents and masters concerning the calling and employment of their children, especially of their ability to read...the principles of religion and the capital laws of this country." In 1647, says the record, " It being one cheife piect of yt ould deluder Satan to keepe...

...appointed for managing the prudential affairs of the same shall henceforth stand chanred with the care of especially of their ability to read and understand...principles of religion and the capital laws of the country, and to impose fines upon all those who refuse to render such account to them when required ; and they...

...their religious opinions. They thought it of the utmost importance that all children should be able "to read and understand the principles of religion and the capital laws of this country." But at a time when the necessities of life made it incumbent to require the schoolmaster...