John Greenwood (educator) facts for kids

John Greenwood (died 1609) was an English schoolmaster. He lived a long time ago, in the late 1500s and early 1600s. He is remembered for teaching at a school in England and for writing a special book about grammar.

John Greenwood: A Life of Learning

John Greenwood was a teacher from England. He spent his life helping young people learn. He was born sometime in the 1500s and passed away in 1609.

His Time at Cambridge University

Greenwood started his studies at St. John's College, Cambridge, in 1558. This was a very famous university, even back then! Later, he moved to another part of the university called Catharine Hall. He did so well there that he became a "fellow" of the college. This meant he was a senior member, often involved in teaching and research.

He earned his first university degree, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), in 1561 or 1562. A few years later, in 1565, he completed his Master of Arts (M.A.) degree.

Teaching at Brentwood School

After finishing his studies, John Greenwood became the headmaster of the grammar school at Brentwood, Essex. A grammar school in those days taught students important subjects like Latin and Greek, which were key for further education. He worked there for many years. It seems he lived to be quite old, as he passed away in Brentwood in 1609.

His Only Known Book

John Greenwood wrote only one book that we know of. It was called Syntaxis et Prosodia, versiculis compositæ. This book was published in Cambridge in 1590. The title means "Syntax and Prosody, composed in verses."

• Syntax is about how words are put together to form sentences.
• Prosody is about the rhythm and sound of language, especially in poetry.

So, his book was a guide to grammar and how language sounds, written in a fun way using poems or verses!