Aztec Education
The people of the Aztec empire had compulsory education for everyone regardless of their gender or their class. That means that even slaves or girls could get an education. When children were still young, their education was the responsibility of the adult. The father would teach the sons, and the mother the daughters. People in the Aztec society were generally well educated though boys still had privileges and got a wider education than girls
Discipline was often very harsh as courtesy and respect was a big part of Aztec education. Verbal scolding was how the Aztec parents educated children up until the age of 8. But as the child grew older, harsh punishments would be in store for the older child to prepare him for the harsher realities of Aztec life.
Aztec children would play with marbles, stones, and the bow and arrow. When they became teenagers, they might play Ullamaliztli--the legendary Aztec ball game--and the board game Patolli. They also learned about the importance of music is a huge aspect of the entire Aztec culture. They would practise musical instruments both at home and school. When they are between the ages of 12 and 15, they would learn many Aztec national songs.
When the children were young, they would go to the same school. However, as they grew older, they split into two main branches. One branch was the Telpochcalli, the school for the poor and the Calmecac, the school for the noble. Boys and girls did not attend the same school. However, no matter whatever school they attended, school was tough. There was no recess and no time to relax.
Some schools trained kids in specialised professions. If kids showed talent in a particular aspect, they would be moved to these special classes. For instance, one might show interest in plants and making medicines, thus they might be moved into the school that trained doctors. The Aztecs knew that there was a need for a talented work force, whether that specialised work force was formed from common people or the nobility. If you had talent, school was a chance to move up in the world. The Aztecs believed in giving everyone a chance, even if it was a slim one.
Girls received more home schooling that boys. They were taught by their mothers. They were taught how to run a home, cook, and care for a family. They began learning to weave at the age of four and how to cook at the age of 12. But they were also taught things like crafts and ways to economically run the home. Education for girls were more or less preparations to be a good wife and for marriage. Women had a lot of power in Aztec society but it was more behind the scenes. Noble girls spent a year when they were 12 or 13 attending the priestesses in the temples. Some would also go on to become professional priestesses.
Most boys were trained in hunting, farming, fishing and fighting. At the age of five, they carried firewood and accompanied their fathers to the marketplace. They watched how their parents exchanged goods in the market. The market was a place for boys to meet new people and learn how to behave around adults and other children. In their preteen years, boy learned to fish. Aztec boys started their education at 15 at the Calmecac. Those who didn't attend this school went to the Cuicacalli, a junior military academy which taught them about warfare.
The Macehualtin who were the class of merchants, peasants and craftsmen. Their children went to a local school known as the Telpochcalli. The children there were taught basic occupational skills, basics of warfare, civics, history and religion. Boys and girls attended different schools. Some Macehualtin who were gifted and talented were sent to a calmecac which is where the children of noble birth went to school.
The Calmecac is where the noble children went to school. The Calmecac was run by priests who taught about religion, governing, astronomy, history and poetry, Aztec children who attended this school would later on become priests, government officials or leaders.
Discipline was often very harsh as courtesy and respect was a big part of Aztec education. Verbal scolding was how the Aztec parents educated children up until the age of 8. But as the child grew older, harsh punishments would be in store for the older child to prepare him for the harsher realities of Aztec life.
Aztec children would play with marbles, stones, and the bow and arrow. When they became teenagers, they might play Ullamaliztli--the legendary Aztec ball game--and the board game Patolli. They also learned about the importance of music is a huge aspect of the entire Aztec culture. They would practise musical instruments both at home and school. When they are between the ages of 12 and 15, they would learn many Aztec national songs.
When the children were young, they would go to the same school. However, as they grew older, they split into two main branches. One branch was the Telpochcalli, the school for the poor and the Calmecac, the school for the noble. Boys and girls did not attend the same school. However, no matter whatever school they attended, school was tough. There was no recess and no time to relax.
Some schools trained kids in specialised professions. If kids showed talent in a particular aspect, they would be moved to these special classes. For instance, one might show interest in plants and making medicines, thus they might be moved into the school that trained doctors. The Aztecs knew that there was a need for a talented work force, whether that specialised work force was formed from common people or the nobility. If you had talent, school was a chance to move up in the world. The Aztecs believed in giving everyone a chance, even if it was a slim one.
Girls received more home schooling that boys. They were taught by their mothers. They were taught how to run a home, cook, and care for a family. They began learning to weave at the age of four and how to cook at the age of 12. But they were also taught things like crafts and ways to economically run the home. Education for girls were more or less preparations to be a good wife and for marriage. Women had a lot of power in Aztec society but it was more behind the scenes. Noble girls spent a year when they were 12 or 13 attending the priestesses in the temples. Some would also go on to become professional priestesses.
Most boys were trained in hunting, farming, fishing and fighting. At the age of five, they carried firewood and accompanied their fathers to the marketplace. They watched how their parents exchanged goods in the market. The market was a place for boys to meet new people and learn how to behave around adults and other children. In their preteen years, boy learned to fish. Aztec boys started their education at 15 at the Calmecac. Those who didn't attend this school went to the Cuicacalli, a junior military academy which taught them about warfare.
The Macehualtin who were the class of merchants, peasants and craftsmen. Their children went to a local school known as the Telpochcalli. The children there were taught basic occupational skills, basics of warfare, civics, history and religion. Boys and girls attended different schools. Some Macehualtin who were gifted and talented were sent to a calmecac which is where the children of noble birth went to school.
The Calmecac is where the noble children went to school. The Calmecac was run by priests who taught about religion, governing, astronomy, history and poetry, Aztec children who attended this school would later on become priests, government officials or leaders.