The New England Primer Analysis

The document titled “The New-England Primer” published in the 1690s existed to set desired standards on how boy and girls should behave. People wanted their children to behave and act a certain way as desired. They wanted their children behave in a manner that is helpful for members of their family and the society. The document was specific on their desires of proper behavior for children. The people within decided if these children were either a “Good Boy”, or a “Good Girl” (GS, p.174).

During this time a “Good Boy” was someone who was dutiful to his mother and father, obedient to his master, and diligent in learning. A “Good Boy” should always cheerful, and good-humored. A “Good Boy” would rather suffer wrong himself than to do wrong of anybody else (GS, p. 174). A "Good Boy" should always be polite, he should never swear, he should never lie, and he should be worthy of praise (GS, p.174). If a male child during this time did not meet the requirements to be a "Good Boy". Then he had the title “Bad Boy” placed upon him instead. …show more content…
It also shows how there was of thinking shaped their society. The document does not tell the readers, other things that were going on during the time. Things that could have made the people during the time set the standards that they have in place now. Why do people of this time have such strict regulations on the way children should act, or behave? How did these people develop the idea to set and enforce these standards and titles to children? Why did people during this time feel like they needed make standards for children to follow? To find the answers to these questions, places like the library, or you can look through old paper and document from the period. Another way to find the answers to these questions is to pretend you are one of these people during the time, and try to live their mind set. Old diaries, and journals people made throughout the