The Puritans came to the New World on a mission. They wanted to complete the Protestant Reformation. They valued education, unlike some of the sects of England. They wanted to demonstrate that they held the true conception of religious doctrine, and they were convinced that their success depended on an educated community. The strong religious beliefs that the colonist held was instituted in the early school system. At the beginning of the colonial period, religious doctrines dominated the schools. In education, as in other aspects of colonial life, the church was the predominate force. Education was concerned as much with moral training as with intellectual training. Over time, the religious focus in schools would become less stringent.
             In the seventeenth century, the children in the public schools of New England were taught specifically the doctrines of Congregational Calvinism. The Congregational church was established by the legislature in those colonies. (Johnson et. all, 300) "The laws of the state required all people to accept the doctrines and rituals of the established church and authorized punishment for those who objected" ( Johnson et. all, 308) The Puritans believed that if they instilled these values at an early age, they would ensure that their children would grow up to be good and faithful servants of God. They viewed religion as the way to salvation and reading and education as the way to knowledge and understanding of their religious beliefs. Religious faith was considered to be a crucial part of the lives of the colonists. It was understood that a time of worship should be visited on a daily basis by every individual in the community.
             The primary teaching tools used i
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