Colonies trained in ‘the cross of Christ’: How early American education prioritized faith formation 

Early American education wholeheartedly incorporated the Christian faith into its curriculum, representatives from two historical foundations told The Lion in an interview.

Wallbuilders, founded by historian David Barton in the 1980s, preserves artifacts and primary source materials that present the truth about the Founders’ faith and the principles they established, Erik Hanson, a Wallbuilders writer, researcher and speaker, told The Lion.

American Journey Experience, co-founded by Barton and radio host Glenn Beck in 2020, likewise educates Americans in this history, and presents evidence from the time of Christopher Columbus to the Space Race to “show God’s hand of providence throughout our nation’s history,” Chief of Outreach Mike Noriega told The Lion.

Faith in education

Faith not only was central in government during America’s founding but also in education, Hanson and Noriega explained. Noriega recalled the story of an Indian chief asking George Washington if he could send his children to the colonies’ schools.

“‘You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life and above all – the religion of Jesus Christ,’” Washington said in response, during his address to the Delaware Nation in 1779.

The colonies prioritized education more so than the various mother countries of Europe, as seen in the higher literacy rates among both men and women, Hanson said. Education was not merely for children or a handful of academics, Noriega explained.

“They understood the value in reading God’s word. They understood that a free people have to be a literate people,” he said.

The Code of 1650 – the first law book printed in the United States – contained one law requiring children be taught to read Scripture, Hanson explained. The education law, called “The Old Deluder Satan Act,” warned against the devil’s scheme to “keep men from a knowledge of the Scriptures,” and mandated towns with a population of 50 or more to build schools to instruct children in God’s Word.

“The first education law in America is basically saying it is a trick of the devil to keep kids from being able to read their Bibles,” Hanson said. “Therefore, build schools and teach them to read their Bibles.”

The New England Primer, the first textbook printed in America – equivalent to an early education grade-level reader – taught students the alphabet through various rhymes such as, “in Adam’s Fall, we sinned all,” Hanson explained. The end of the textbook required students to recite the Westminster Catechism and answer questions, such as, “What is Sanctification?” Hanson referenced these materials as examples of Scriptural incorporation in education.

Educational shift

But education shifted dramatically in the Progressive Era, departing from dialogue, reasoning and character development to mere memorization of facts, Hanson said. He noted significant differences over just three years in the Colorado state exam book for 8th grade students – similar to today’s standardized tests.

In 1924, students were asked to write essays for the civics section of the exam to demonstrate adequate understanding of both state and national government. Questions included the date and location of the Constitution’s ratification, as well as the process to amend it, powers designated, and specific offices up for election that year.

In 1927, test questions became true and false, fill in the blank, and multiple-choice. The shift demonstrates the progressive trends of the era that promoted efficiency over contemplation, Hanson explained.

“They no longer wanted intelligent workers who could think and design for themselves. They wanted more obedient factory workers,” he said. “And so, they started changing the nature of exams from an open-ended: ‘Can you think critically about this? Can you articulate a thoughtful response?’ to: ‘Can you repeat what the teacher has told you?’

“And it’s a very different approach to education. It’s one that stuck and one that is a relic of the Progressive Movement.”

Education at higher institutions, Bible colleges

Faith was essential to education during the Founding Era, not only for young children, but also for the elites at higher institutions, Hanson said, adding that nearly every college or university at the time of the Founding would be considered a Bible college or seminary today.

“One of the admission requirements for getting into Yale was being able to translate the New Testament into the Greek and then back out of the Greek into the English,” Hanson said.

John Witherspoon, a Presbyterian minister, revitalized Princeton College, as president from 1768 to 1794 under his philosophy, “cursed be all learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ,” Hanson added.

“The actual education and the institutions that were writing the education were profoundly religious,” he said. “It’s indisputable.”