A major legacy of the colonial period was an interest in a common education for all children. Early elementary education emphasized reading, writing, arithmetic, spelling, and Bible study. Secondary education was rarely offered to gill is and was considered a means for preparing young men for the ministry law or medicine. The subjects most frequently offered included. Latin, Greek, elocution, and rhetoric. Prior to the Revolutionary War, school sessions were so long that there was little time for involvement in sports. Once academies and colleges appeared after the War, some time for sports and physical exercise was permitted.