Plantation Education

A Virginian plantation home with tutor Philip Vickers Fithian

During the 1800's, formal education was not of great importance for the general masses residing on plantations. Social education such as social obligations and social status were held as most important. Most young girls were taught how to run a plantation and other subject on being a good wife. The childern were also taught reading, writing, ciphering, dance and music. Children education was not a public issue. It was a private subject, decided upon by the parents, mostly the fathers. This thought held true until the creation of the University system beginning with University of Pennsylvania created by Benjamin Franklin. Up until the University system was created, most children of wealthy planters had at home tutors or the sons were sent to England for formal learning.

However, there are two additional education systems during this era. The white non-elite would have limited access to an education through the church. Oft times the church was the centerpiece of the educational system for poor whites because it had the greatest exposure to the general masses of that population. Blacks/slaves and poor whites in general did not receive an education in the plantation environment. In most regions, teaching blacks to read/write was illegal and could result in severe punishment including death/lynching. The religious leaders taught religion to slave by word of mouth only. They agreed with the slave owners, it was dangerous to teach a slave to read or write. That could lead to an uprising. The poor whites did not fair much better on the plantation in respect to being educated. Even though it was not illegal to teach poor whites to read/write, it simply was not a priority therefore not pursued. Education for the general masses of the population in whole did not occur until the turn of the 20^th century.