Aztec Education 

Reading, Writing, and Counting

Higher education was based on ability to read and write.  

Nobles learned to read and write

Commoners learned through spoken words

Aztecs used fingers and toes to count.

Military Training

All boys trained as warriors, then served as soldier's servant, to learn how a warrior conducted himself, until age 15 when he became a warrior himself.

Aztecs were mandated to be in the military

Canada has a voluntary military service

Countries that have mandatory military service:

• Austria

• China

• Egypt

• Israel

• Mexico

• Sweden

• United States - males age 18-25 must register in order to provide manpower in case of an emergency

Pro's and Cons of Conscription

Education for Commoners

Commoners were expected to memorize their lessons because they were not taught how to read and write.  

Subjects taught:

• Aztec History

• Religion

• Citizenship duties

• Music 

  • flutes

  • drums

  • dance

Boys did a lot of physical labour

Practical instruction came from parents to prepare them for the family trade.

Educating Aztec Women

All girls attended school because a good education was important for all.

Women had little political power

At 16, a girl was usually married and moved in with the husband.  

Women could not hold a public office, but were still valued as:

• doctors and healers in the army

• priestesses

• midwives

• consulted on lucky days and matchmakers  

Debating Aztec Insights: Education, Conscription, and Gender Roles

Objective: 

Through critical analysis and debate, students will explore the societal structures and values of the Aztec civilization, comparing them to contemporary perspectives on education, conscription, and gender roles.

Assignment Overview:

1. Preparation: Students will be divided into groups, each focusing on one of the three topics: Education, Conscription, or Gender Roles. Within their groups, students will review the provided questions and conduct additional research to gather information and formulate arguments.

2. Debate Preparation: Each group will prepare a presentation defending their stance on the assigned topic. They must gather evidence from historical sources and contemporary examples to support their arguments.

3. Debate Session: The class will come together for a structured debate session. Each group will present their arguments, followed by a rebuttal phase where other groups can challenge their assertions. The debate will be moderated to ensure respectful discourse and equal participation.

4. Reflection: After the debate, students will individually reflect on the insights gained from the discussion. They will write a short essay analyzing how the Aztec societal structures and values compare to contemporary perspectives and exploring the implications for modern society.

Assignment Questions:

• Education:

  • What does "a stone heart and a stone face" mean? How does it fit in with your own idea of citizenship?

  • How would providing reading and writing to nobles only enforce the Aztec social order?

  • What is the purpose of education today?

• Conscription:

  • Should military service be mandatory in Canada as it was for the Aztecs? Support your position with three reasons.

  • If conscription were enacted in Canada, do you think women should be drafted as well as men? Explain your thinking.

  • Choose either the Conscription Crisis of 1917 or 1944 and research the reasons given by the government for enacting conscription. What values do those reasons reflect? Do you think those values have changed in the decades since conscription?

• Women VS Men:

  • What does the burying of the umbilical cords suggest about how the Aztecs viewed male and female roles in society?

Additional Instructions:

• Be sure to engage in respectful dialogue and consider multiple perspectives during the debate.

• Provide resources for research, including historical texts, articles, and documentaries.

• You will be required to apply critical thinking skills and the ability to draw connections between historical contexts and contemporary issues.

• Evaluation is based on the depth of their arguments, your ability to support their claims with evidence, and their engagement in the debate process.