humanities.lit.authors.shakespeare

"Paul Crowley" wrote in message
news:PbTBj.24808$j7.452943@news.indigo.ie...
> "John Cartmell" wrote in message
> news:4f7ee3c123john@cartmell.demon.co.uk...
>
> >> "Tom Reedy" wrote in message
> >>
news:6d850cb4-dfb2-4951-b169-df2d72464ac1@n77g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
>
> >> > No, that's not true. Almost every biography I've read mentions the
> >> > probable illiteracy of his parents, while citing the lack of any firm
> >> > evidence one way or the other about his siblings and children.
> >
> >> That alone should be more than enough for any rational person to
disbelieve
> >> the Stratfordian story.
> >
> > Except that Shakespeare had free access to grammar school education
>
> A one-teacher-in-one-room school in a
> remote provincial town where the teachers
> were usually fresh out of college, not lasting
> long. (There were many changes over the
> years the Stratman might have attended
> school: 1571-77.) Such schools catered
> for 7-13 year olds, and would have taught
> little beyond basic literacy. Ever met a
> thirteen-year old? And in a town where
> most were illiterate?
>

Stratford, as many grammar schols, had an annex where youngsters were taught
reading & writing *in order to be able to enter* the grammar school itself.

By this time national standards were being installed which meant that
grammar schools' tuition included Latin and the classics.

Surreyman