School comparison

School in early Pompeian times had many similarities and differences compared to the educational system of today. During early times, a student would have a slave follow him to school and stay with him, encouraging good behavior as participation in class, even though the student would technically be the slave's master. The curriculum itself, however, was quite similar to ours in terms of what the student would learn based on his age. You would typically begin school learning to read, write, and doing basic arithmetic. Eventually you would learn of public speaking as well as advanced reading and writing, or perhaps even learning another language. Typically speaking most students wouldn't go far beyond this, as they would either find a trade or join the military. Only the wealthiest of families could afford their student to continue their education into later years of their life. Of course, students would be expected to write, take notes, and practice their reading skills in ways similar to ours, but on materials somewhat different. Paper and pens were not common back then, as they would either use scrolls and the hollow bone or feather of a bird, or a wax tablet and a stylus. Math and science were rare commodities back then, but the children would at least learn how to count, add, subtract, etc for any business trade they may encounter, only students who were pursuing a higher education would learn any sort of advanced math, chemistry or biology.