In Ancient Egyptian times, only the upper classes - the elite, recieved a formal education. Only the boys were educated this way because the girls would remain at home where they learned household skills from their mothers.
Girls from peasant families would learn how to do household chores and how to prepare and cook meals.
The boys from peasant families would go to work with their fathers and learn their trade.
For the privileged 'upper classes,' the girls would remain at home with their mothers. Here, they learned how to run a household and manage servants. They also learned how to dress and how to entertain guests - being a good hostess.
The boys of the nobility, attended what we now call school. They started very early in the morning and stayed until early afternoon. A cane was used to combat laziness and to encourage pupils to be attentive. As they wore only a loincloth (due to the very hot climate), their backs were bare and therefore a few strokes would soon have the young boys paying attention. Boys would also learn how to fight.
From an early age, all children were taught moral values, using physical punishment if necessary. These morals included respect for parents and superiors. Inferiors also had to be treated correctly and were not to be humiliated by those of a higher rank. Envy and jealousy had to be resisited. Generosity was something one had to show throughout their lives and so did treating friends well. Silence was to be chosen if you had nothing interesting to say.
