1600-1754: Education: Publications

Thomas Budd, Good Order Established in Pennsilvania and New Jersey in America (Philadelphia: Printed by William Bradford, 1685)—recommendations for a comprehensive plan of public education which were largely adopted;

Ezekiel Cheever, A Short Introduction to the Latin Tongue (Boston: Printed by B. Green for Benj. Eliot, 1709);

John Cotton, Spiritual Milk for Boston Babes in Either England (Cambridge, Mass.: Printed by Samuel Green for Hezekiah Usher, 1656)—a popular catechism written by a leading Boston minister and Puritan theologian;

Benjamin Franklin, Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pensilvânia (Philadelphia, 1749)—a discussion of subjects to be taught in an ideal secondary school. Franklin had a utilitarian view on the matter and recommended that students “learn those Things that are likely to be most useful and most ornamental ”;

Cotton Mather, The Christian Philosopher (London: Printed for Eman. Matthews, 1720)—a famous scientific treatise dealing with astronomy, physics, meteorology, geography, geology, and mineralogy;

Mather, India Christiana (Boston: Printed by B. Green, 1721)—an argument supporting the education of Native Americans;

Mather, Magnalia Christi Americana (London: Printed for Thomas Parkhurst, 1702)—one of the most significant books published in the entire colonial era. Mather glorifies the founders of New England, a group chosen for a special “errand in the wilderness”;

Isaac Watts, The Improvement of the Mind (London: Printed for J. Brackstone, 1741)—the author’s theory is based on John Locke’s premise that sensation and reflection are the basic experiences that furnish knowledge. Maintaining that “all persons are under some obligation to improve their understanding,” Watts developed five “eminent means” of improving knowledge: observing, reading, attending lectures, engaging in conversation, and studying.