Final answer:
The Puritans regarded education as crucial for understanding the Bible, necessary for church membership, and salvation, resulting in the establishment of Harvard and the first public school system in America.
Step-by-step explanation:
The significance of the way the Puritans saw education is deeply rooted in their religious beliefs and societal values. They considered education to be one of life's most essential needs, as it enabled individuals to qualify for church membership by being able to read and comprehend the Bible. This was so integral to their society that they established Harvard University in 1636 and instituted the Old Deluder Satan Law in 1647, which mandated education with the clear purpose of enabling the study of Scriptures.
Public schools and literacy were seen as vital tools against the influence of Satan and for qualifying the 'elect' in the community for salvation. In the New England Puritan colonies, unlike in the Southern colonies, education was seen as the responsibility of the state, which led to the establishment of the first public school system in America. The emphasis on scripture, hard work, and practicality in catechism contributed to what many historians recognize as the intellectual contributions and development of American virtues like thriftiness and social responsibility among the Puritans.