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Introduction To Education  EDF 1005 Unit I Lesson II THE ORIGINS OF TEACHING
Personal Information Joseph D. McNair Associate Professor, Senior jmcnair@mdc.edu			Links More Links
Introduction to the Lesson The purpose of this second lesson is to extend the education student's exposure to the origins of formal teaching/ learning. In this lesson, the student will study the several early civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, and India from circa 3000BCE to 600BCE. The student will  examine three (3) principal teaching and learning systems prominent in early civilizations. These systems may be described as "home schooling", "apprenticeship" and "temple instruction."  The student will also focus on the invention of writing and its role in transforming pre-literate societies into "civilizations" and perpetuating those civilizations.  It will become evident to the student that the purpose of formal education in Egypt and Mesopotamia was practical and aimed at the training scribes and priests. Generally, youth of the upper classes were prepared to become scribes, who ranged from copyists to librarians and teachers, or priests, who were the real "power" in not just Egypt and Mesopotamia but most early civilizations. Education among the "lower" classes was the responsibility of parents. Fathers generally taught their trades or occupations to their sons. Young girls worked and received their training at home with their mothers. Some children were apprenticed to artisans or craftspersons if the family could afford to do so. The temple was the locus of all forms of higher education in Egypt and Mesopotamia. All specialized knowledge was in the province of the the priest caste. In North China, formal education emerged during the Shang era. Ancient Chinese can be described as secular e.g. outside of the influence of the Temples and aimed at developing moral character. Its purpose was to create or develop in the learner a sense of duty toward people and the state, and a heightened sense of moral sensitivity.  Harmonious human relations, rituals, and music formed the core of the curriculum of Ancient Chinese formal and informal education... Ancient India began to urbanize in circa 3000 BCE . With urbanization e.g. the formation of large cities, especially along the Indus River valley, came the demand for more formal structures of teaching and learning. Not much is known about teaching and learning in the Harappan civilization and as such the origins and development of Ancient Indian culture is shrouded in controversy. With the rise of Hinduism in circa 2000 BCE came the application of an interesting idea about the division of labor in Indian society. Society was divided into four (4) classes, Brahmans, Ksatriyas, Vaisyas and Sudras. Such was the origin of the division of the Hindu society  into four  "classes."  All activities in ancient India were derived from and controlled by religion. Religion shaped education and all of its applications. During this period of the history of man, we can reasonably suggest that the manis oldest teaching/learning strategy, what we will call in a later period Mental discipline, began to emerge, especially in the scribe schools of Egypt and Mesopotamia.  This strategy is introduced first in this unit and lesson. This lesson was developed to address elements of competency #3 and competency #4 on the functions of the educational process (teaching and learning) and schooling for education majors who are taking EDF 1005 in partial fulfillment of the graduation requirements for an Associate of Arts degree in Teaching (Elementary), Teaching (Secondary), Early Childhood and Exceptional Education. Competency #3 reads (in part) as follows: "The student will demonstrate knowledge of the significant ideas, events and people that have shaped American Education by Describing trends from antiquity to the present in terms of educational opportunity of various groups, compulsory attendance, curricular emphasis and teacher training, between enculturation, education and schooling. Competency #4 reads (in part) as follows: "The student will examine the various functions of the educational process and schooling by Explaining the difference between enculturation, education and schooling. (A complete list of all the competencies for EDF 1005 is provided below by clicking on the link titled competencies)
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