Colonial schools were small and had only one room. There was a schoolmaster who taught everyone. People paid the teacher with corn. Boys went to school longer than girls. Girls only went to dame school at the beginning. Then, it was not important for girls to have a good education. Nice handwriting was considered important. Spelling was not. The New England Primer was the only schoolbook. If you did not behave in colonial school the schoolmaster would punish you severely. Colonial school was very hard work!