PRIMITIVE,

SUMERIAN, AND
EARLY EGYPTIAN
EDUCATION
By Jeffrey Macalino
PRIMITIVE EDUCATION: Aims of
Primitive Education
1. Security and Survival
Natural Disaster
Wild Animals
Evil spirits
Hunger
Other tribes
2. Conformity
3. Preservation and transmission of
traditions
PRIMITIVE EDUCATION: Types
of Education
1. Vocational (basic necessity)
2. Religious (animistic)
PRIMITIVE EDUCATION:
Content to be Studied
1. Ways of procuring the basic
necessities in life and of
protecting life from dangers.
2. Superstitions.
PRIMITIVE EDUCATION:
Agencies of Education
Home
Environment
PRIMITIVE EDUCATION:
Organization of Grades
None
PRIMITIVE EDUCATION:
Methods of Instruction
All instruction was done
informally
Observation and imitation
Simple telling and
demonstration
Participation
PRIMITIVE EDUCATION:
Financing
None
PRIMITIVE EDUCATION:
Outstanding Contribution to
Education
The primitive man started the
rudiments of education from
which evolved the modern
educational systems of today.
SUMERIAN: Aims of Primitive
Education
Training of scribes
Training of bookkeepers
Training of teachers
Training of learners to be good
SUMERIAN: Types of Education
Writing education (cuneiform)
Mathematical education (low
digit counting)
Language education
Vocational education
Professional education
Art education
SUMERIAN: Content to be
Studied
Reading, writing, little arithmetic
Astronomy for predicting the planting and
reaping
Architecture, agriculture, and hydraulics
Jewelry designing
Carpentry, ship building, smithing
Some simple rules and regulations to be
obeyed were taught and followed by the
people in their conduct of their daily life
SUMERIAN: Agencies of
Education
Home
School
Temple school
Apprentice schools
SUMERIAN: Organization of
Grades
There were already organized
classes
There was higher education for
the professions. Education was
not universal.
SUMERIAN: Methods of
Instruction
Imitation and copying
Preparation of tablets
SUMERIAN: Financing
It is not clear whether the
students paid tuition fees or not
but most probably the students
paid certain amounts.
SUMERIAN: Outstanding
Contribution to Education
Sumerias outstanding
contribution to education and
especially to civilization was its
cuneiform writing.
EARLY EGYPTIAN: Aims of
Primitive Education
Training of scribes
Religious
Utilitarian
Preservation of cultural patterns
EARLY EGYPTIAN: Types of
Education
Religious education
Vocational-professional education
Military education
Education for public administration
Priesthood education
Home arts education
Writing, reading, and language
education.
EARLY EGYPTIAN: Content to
be Studied
Reading, writing, and language
Religious and secular literature
Artistry in metals and lapidary
Mathematics, especially geometry and surveying.
Subjects in astronomy, engineering, architecture,
physics, medicine, embalming, dentistry, and law
were taught in the temple schools by the priests.
Music, dancing, playing instruments and clapping to
rhythm.
Sports, games, and physical education with
swimming, wrestling, archery
The military schools offered training in the use of the
bow and arrow, battle ax, lance, mace, and shield.
EARLY EGYPTIAN: Agencies of
Education
Home
Temple schools
Military schools
Court schools
Vocational schools
EARLY EGYPTIAN: Organization
of Grades
The young studied at home.
Mother as teacher
At age 5, boys attended the
reading and writing schools under
the priests if the parents could
afford to pay the school fees.
At 17, boys entered the schools
that offered their vocations.
EARLY EGYPTIAN: Methods of
Instruction
Apprenticeship
Dictation, memorization,
copying, imitation, repetition.
Observation and participation
EARLY EGYPTIAN: Financing
The students had to pay a
certain amount of school fees
even in the lower schools
EARLY EGYPTIAN: Outstanding
Contribution to Education
Geometrical measurement
and surveying.