<P> Job training was also emphasized, and boys gained valuable experience through apprenticeships . Mothers, though, cannot be overlooked for their roles as moral educators and character builders of their children . Cornelia Africana, the mother of the Gracchi, is even credited as a major cause of her sons' renowned eloquence . </P> <P> Perhaps the most important role of the parents in their children's education was to instill in them a respect for tradition and a firm comprehension of pietas, or devotion to duty . For a boy, this meant devotion to the state, and for a girl, devotion to her husband and family . As the Roman Republic transitioned into a more formal education beyond the 3 R's, parents began to hire teachers for this level of advanced academic training . For this, "the Romans began to bring Greek slaves to Rome" to further enrich their children's knowledge and potential; yet, Romans still always cherished the tradition of pietas and the ideal of the father as his child's teacher . </P> <P> Rome as a republic or an empire never formally instituted a state - sponsored form of elementary education . In no stage of its history did Rome ever legally require its people to be educated on any level . </P> <P> It was typical for Roman children of wealthy families to receive their early education from private tutors . However, it was common for children of more humble means to be instructed in a primary school, traditionally known as a ludus litterarius . An instructor in such a school was often known as a litterator or litteratus, which was seen as a more respectable title . There was nothing stopping a litterator from setting up his own school, aside from his meager wages . There were never any established locations for a ludus litterarius . They could be found in a variety of places, anywhere from a private residence to a gymnasium, or even in the street . </P>

When did the school year start in ancient rome