* The Old Deluder Satan Act (1647): This landmark legislation mandated that towns with 50 or more families must appoint a teacher to instruct children to read and write. Towns with 100 or more families were required to establish a grammar school to prepare boys for university. The name itself reveals the Puritan motivation: they believed an uneducated populace was more susceptible to Satan's influence. This was a groundbreaking step, representing one of the earliest examples of compulsory education in the world.
* Emphasis on literacy: The Puritans placed a high value on reading and writing, believing everyone should be able to read the Bible. This emphasis permeated the culture and fostered a strong commitment to education within families and communities.
* Establishment of Harvard College (1636): Founded just a few years after the colony's establishment, Harvard was initially designed to train ministers, but quickly became a crucial center of higher learning, contributing to the intellectual and social development of the colony and beyond.
* Support for private schools and tutors: While the Old Deluder Satan Act focused on public education, private schools and tutors also played a significant role in providing education, particularly for wealthier families.
* Development of a curriculum: The curriculum focused primarily on religious instruction, reading, writing, and arithmetic. Latin grammar was also a crucial component of the grammar school curriculum, preparing students for university studies.
It's important to note that while the Massachusetts Bay Colony made significant strides in promoting education, this access wasn't universal. Girls' education was largely neglected, and education for enslaved people and Indigenous populations was virtually nonexistent. The system was also far from perfect, with varying levels of funding and access depending on a town's wealth and commitment. Nevertheless, the steps taken in the Massachusetts Bay Colony laid a foundation for the development of public education in America.