Education in Sparta
In Sparta they believed the purpose of education was to produce men and women who could protect the city-state. When a baby did not appear healthy and strong, it was left on the hillside to die. From the age of 7 boys and girls were taught to fight. Girls learned how to wrestle, box, do footraces, and gymnastics. The Spartan boys lived and were taught in buildings called barracks. They were taught to read, and write, but most Spartan people did not believe that those were important skills. They believed the most important thing was to fight. Boys were taught to suffer any pain that was inflicted on them. They marched with no shoes on, they were fed little to none food, and they only way for them to get food was to steal it, and hope they wouldn’t get caught. When the boys turned 20 they were given a test of fitness, military ability, and leadership skills. If they passed they went on to be soldiers and full citizens. Even then they lived in barracks after they passed. There they ate, slept, and trained with other classmates.