The answer is C. The<em> basic education</em> provided by the colonists had as primary purpose to help the Protestant children to learn <em>how to read</em>, so they could <em>read the scriptures and all the teachings in the Bible</em>. But any further education was rare, and the girls only learned writing and arithmetic, besides reading. They boys usually received more education.
The colonists provided basic education for girls as well as boys because protestant denominations wanted everyone to be able to read the Bible. Option C is correct.
Education in the Thirteen Colonies during the 17th and 18th centuries varied considerably.
How much education a child received depended on a person's social and family status. When educating, families favored boys.
Education was valued for the sake of religious study in order for thchildren to have a great command of Bible reading.
