The Old Deluder Satan Law of 1647

"It being one chiefe project of that old deluder, Satan, to keepe men from the knowledge of the scriptures, as in former time .... It is therefore ordered .... [that] after the Lord hath increased [the settlement] to the number of fifty howshoulders, [they] shall forthwith appoint one within theire towne, to teach all such children as shall resorte to him, to write and read ... and it is further ordered, That where any towne shall increase to the number of one hundred families or howshoulders, they shall sett up a grammar schoole for the university."

(Your textbook and I disagree on the interpretation of this law. I contend that it doesn't really require the towns to have schools -- only those over 100 families, which would have been very few in 1647, were required to set up a "grammar school." It doesn't require kids to attend school, either. What it requires is that each town must appoint a teacher.

Most important, though: I believe the correct interpretation is that it neither required towns to establish school nor required students to attend. So, if the question should show up on a quiz, the correct answer is that "The Old Deluder Satan Law"of 1647 neither required towns to have schools nor students to attend school.)