Education played an important part in the societies of the ancient civilizations. However, not everyone had the opportunity to be educated and those who had the chance to go to school were highly respected by the public. In most cases, only the boys and girls from rich families had the right to receive education. In generally, girls were forced to stay home to do the washing and cleaning.

In ancient Egypt, only a small percentage of Egyptian children went to school, and these were usually from wealthy families. The rest began working alongside their parents, many starting as early as age seven. Boys in ancient Greece attended school to be taught not only how to read and write, but also morals, manners, and wisdom. They learned how to recite poetry and play the lyre, or the flute-like aulos. They received physical training, too, in running, jumping, wrestling. To the Greeks, who viewed man as whole, physical excellence was as important as mental excellence. The girls, however, received basic domestic education where they learnt how to take care of the house and children. In Ancient Rome, boys were normally educated at home by the father himself. He learnt to read understand the Roman law, history, and customs.

Interestingly, the ancient civilizations shared a common method of learning, which was by memorization. Those who did not do so received harsh physical discipline. Archaeologists discovered an ancient Egyptian clay tablet which proved this was true, as on the tablet was written: "Thou didst beat me and knowledge entered my head". The early Chinese scholars had to memorize chinese script which required lots of time to master as they stressed on rote memory. In India, education was limited to the upper classes and passed down from teacher to student through oral means using the Sanskrit language. Every word said had to be memorized by the student.

Education today, however, is no longer restricted to only males. Females, too, in most countries, have equal chances of attending schools. In fact, education is even made compulsory for all in some countries! For instance, in my country Singapore, everyone, boy and girl alike, are required to attend at least six years of primary education.

Education today still involves memorising facts and data, but it is no longer the main method of learning. Instead, schools today stress more on creative thinking and the student researching extra information on his own. Those who are slow at learning do not receive harsh punishment like the students in the past, instead, they are given extra lessons by the teachers to help them catch up with the rest of the students.

Well, is the way of learning today much more efficient than that in the past? Students today seem to have more freedom than those in the past, in that they are not forced to memorise all that they are studying which would be very taxing for the brain. However, with less strict discipline in schools today, does it mean that the students who do well in schools are actually fewer than those in the past? How exactly does one define a "good" education? An education which stresses on memorisation and strict discipline or an education which involves more self-learning and guidance from the teacher?

Egyptian students studying from clay tablets

Lyre

Elementary School boys studying Mathematics

Modern woman studying on the floor using a laptop - see how women today have educational opportunities as well? Education too has extended beyond the classroom-people are now using the computer for help too