 Education of the young was never considered to be the primary domain of schools , even after they had become more common . Most education was carried out by a child 's parents or foster parents . Formal apprenticeships were not the norm in Plymouth ; it was expected that a foster family would teach the children whatever trades they themselves practiced . The church also played a central role in a child 's education . As noted above , the primary purpose of teaching children to read was so that they could read the Bible for themselves . 
