The New England Primer

The New England Primer was the principal text for all students in all types of American schools, public, private, semi-private, home, dame, parochial, etc. The Founders, as well as millions of other Americans, learned to read from The New England Primer and the Bible. 1

My reprint of the 1777 edition of this foundational core to the educational system of our nation, is one of my favorite books. This resource provided a clear and simple guide for living. While learning vowels, consonants and multi-syllable words, generations of people were offered life-giving and moral direction. God created us in His likeness and simultaneously gave us the freedom to chose how we live-out our time on this earth. Therefore, we each have a choice to walk in God's likeness or yield to the offerings of the un-regenerated world that often surrounds us. My belief is firm that unveiling basic and succinct margins or standards of right and wrong will call mankind toward goodness.

The primer has a section entitled: 'Choice Sentences'

1. PRAYING will make us leave sinning, or sinning will make us leave praying.
2. OUR weakness and inabilities break not the bond of our duties.
3. WHAT we are afraid to speak before men, we should be afraid to think before GOD.

Another section titled, 'The Sum of the ten Commandments, WITH all thy soul love God above, And as thyself thy neighbour love.' Wouldn't a return to such teaching be a positive change!

I have also enjoyed the use of Lynne Cheney's book, America  A Patriotic Primer.  The illustrations by Robin Preiss Glasser are great.

1 The New England Primer, Foreward David Barton, 2006 Originally published in 1777 Contemporary Alphabet Edition