Some families could afford to hire tutors for their children, while others had to rely on the parents or older siblings to teach the children. In some cases, children received no formal education at all, and learned only what they could by helping with chores around the house or farm.
The curriculum of a colonial education was typically limited to basic reading, writing, and arithmetic. Older students might also study history, geography, and religion. Boys were often taught to farm or trade, while girls were taught domestic skills such as cooking, sewing, and child-rearing.
Despite the limitations of colonial education, it did manage to produce some highly educated individuals who went on to make significant contributions to American society. These individuals included George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin.