How Did the Lilliputians Educate Their Children?
Gulliver’s Travels is a notable literary work by Jonathan Swift. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Gulliver’s Travels.
Answer
How did the Lilliputians educate their children?
In “Gulliver’s Travels” (1726), Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) describes many strange customs of the Lilliputians. Their system of educating children is also very different from ours. They believed that parents should not raise their own children. So, the state took charge of their education. They had rules for both boys and girls. This system was strict but well-organized.
Public Nurseries: The Lilliputians had public nurseries in every town. Parents had to send their babies there when they were twenty months old. Only the children of cottagers and farmers stayed at home. Children were grouped by social class. They lived and studied in these nurseries. Parents could see them only twice a year, and for just one hour each time.
Male Education: Boys of noble families were trained by wise and honest teachers. They were taught good values like justice, courage, and love for their country. They had plain food and simple clothes. They worked or studied most of the day. They were never allowed to talk to servants. Boys were taught to be strong and useful citizens.
Female Education: Girls were also trained in public nurseries. Their lives were very much like the boys’. They, too, were taught good behavior. The nurses were punished if they taught foolish stories. Girls learned household work and basic knowledge. They were taught to be clean, brave, and honest. They were taken home at twelve, the marriage age.
In short, the Lilliputians believed that the state could raise children better than parents. So, they built a system that trained children from a very young age. Their rules were strict but meant for the good of the nation. They wanted to make every child honest, brave, and useful for society.