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School Heartbeat's daily e-mail transcripts| What underlying
principles guided education in early American life? Mike Smith
talks about the faithfulness of our forefathers on today's Home
School Heartbeat. It's not surprising that our Puritan forebears
established education in our nation with a distinctly Christian
tone. Though formal schooling was limited, its purpose was
clear. Colonial parents made sure their children learned the
truth about God. In 1642, a law was passed punishing parents who
refused to take on this responsibility. Illiteracy was
considered one of Satan's weapons, keeping men from the true
knowledge of God. I am amazed at the faithfulness, and yes, at
the freedom enjoyed by our forefathers. Their schoolbooks were
filled with truth from Scripture. Listen to this excerpt from
The New England Primer, used throughout the nation well into the
19th century: Good children must, Parents and schools agreed
that knowing God's truth would c