School in ancient Rome was called Ludus and usually started for children at age 7. The teacher—usually a freedman or poorer scholar—taught reading, writing, and basic arithmetic.

Wealthy students were later privately tutored to learn Greek, rhetoric, and literature. The aim was to acquire speaking skills and knowledge for public life. For many poor children, school ended early—usually after basic skills—as they had to work in businesses or at home.

Children often sat for hours on hard benches, learned from wax tablets, and had to recite poems by heart. There were no holidays except religious festivals.

Anecdote: A famous scholar, Quintilian, introduced the idea that students should receive less punishment and more praise—a significant change for that era!