Who Invented School? Facts And History Checked

Education, the backbone of human advancement, has helped many societies and individuals to take form. Moving from the ages of an early man and his cave paintings to online classes of the modern era, seeking knowledge has been a basic human endeavour. But have you ever quizzed yourself, who invented school? This article takes us through a ride about who the father of school is.

Who Invented School? Facts And History Checked

The invention of the school is a witness to humankind’s longing quest for knowledge and enlightenment. However, many are unaware of the real history behind the education body today.

As per the World History Encyclopedia, The first schools following the creation of writing around 3500 BC were invented by the sumerians. The Sumerians invented education to train scribes and priests. The scribes were those days theologians and record keepers.

The first schools were combined with temples where priests lived but later moved to separate buildings called eduba or edubbas (tablet houses). Most education was done for wealthy families who studied from sunrise to sunset. Sumerians focused on studying complex grammar and practised writing on dried clay tablets.

On the other hand, Horace Mann, a politician, education reformer and professor of education, in the United States is being acknowledged and receives credit for the modern version of the schooling system. After travelling to Germany in 1843, he copied its system to Massachusetts, creating America’s first compulsory education system.

Meanwhile other ancient civilisations began to emulate this endeavour and introduced the institution based system of education across different periods of time.

Checkout The Periods In Which Other Civilisations Began Institutionalised Schooling Below 

China

Per history and bygone era reports, Chinese rulers Yao and Shun established the first educational institution right from the 24th and 23rd centuries BC. From the 21st century BC to the twentieth century BC, the Xia dynasty created the first education system, building government schools to educate aristocrats in rituals, archery, and literature.

Greece

Beginning from the sixth century BC, the education system was formed in Greece yet it was informal. The system comprised the Athenian systems dealing mainly on the physical and intellectual. The physical aspect focused on gymnastics, a form of physical education focusing on strength and stamina, while the academic part consisted of music, dance, lyrics and poetry.

India

In ancient India, education was informal and everything was taught verbally rather than in composed form. Education was a process that involved three steps: Shravana (hearing), Manana (reflection) and Nididhyāsana (application of knowledge).

The Gurukula education system (from the eleventh century BC) supported traditional Hindu schools of learning (a teacher’s house or a monastery). In the Gurukula system, students would leave their families and homes to reside with the teacher (master) in a Gurukul.

North Africa and the Middle East

In North Africa, the first formal school was established in Egypt around the 21st century BC from 2010s BC to 2060s BC. Just like in Mesopotamia, education in Ancient Egypt was to form an educated ruling class of scribes and priests who could read and compose.

READ: President’s Salary In Ghana: I Will Not Take Salary If I Become A President – Kennedy Agyapong Speaks.

The earliest form of education in the Middle East can be followed back to the Sumerians of Mesopotamia in 3500 BC. They used a logographic system of cuneiform script, which developed into the syllabic script.