Early Quaker education in PennsylvaniaWoody, Thomas
History
Early Quaker education in Pennsylvania
Woody, Thomas
Education -- Pennsylvania -- History; Society of Friends -- Education -- History; Thesis (Ph. D.)
The committee, appointed at last meeting, report: We, the
committee appointed by the monthly meeting at the request of
Kennett Preparative Meeting, respecting the establishment of
schools within the verge thereof, agree to report, we have
attended thereto, and find they have purchased a piece of
ground, with the approbation of the committee of this meeting,
of Abraham Taylor, about two miles and a half westernly from
Kennett Meeting House, adjoining the public road, leading to
Nottingham, and obtained his conveyance to Jacob Pierce, Samuel
Pennock, Townsend Lambourn, Thomas Pierce, William Parker,
and David Pierce, trustees for the same, meted and bounded as
mentioned in the said conveyance and recorded ... and as it
appears to us necessary in order for a fixed object whereon
to lay a foundation for establishing a fund agreeable to the
Yearly Meeting, that the monthly meeting should appoint some
Friends as trustees to have the care of the said school, and
that it should have a name to be distinguished by; we therefore
propose it to be called by the name “Number One,” within the
verge of Kennett Preparative Meeting. We have likewise agreed
on some general rules to be observed by the scholars of the
said school. Signed by Caleb Pierce, Wm. Lambourn, Caleb Kirk,
and Jonathan Greave. 12-24-1790.
The above report, being read, is agreed to be further considered at our
next meeting.[541] Unfortunately for the satisfaction of our curiosity
about the internal organization of the schools, the rules which they
state were drawn up were not incorporated in the minutes of the monthly
meeting. They were probably similar, however, to those adopted by the
Horsham School Committee at a slightly earlier date.[542]
In consideration of the recommendations made in the above report, the
meeting assembled in the seventh month, appointed nine of their members
as trustees, to receive all donations for the purpose of schools.[543]
About a year thereafter, a report signed by Joshua Pusey and John Jones
was submitted by the monthly meeting to the quarterly meeting, which was
in substantial accord with all that had already been done.[544] It may be
well to summarize briefly their recommendations.
[Sidenote: Summary of committee’s report]
1. We have considered the relative situation of the members in our
compass.
2. The affairs of education have not yet received the attention they
deserve.
3. We find several school houses have been erected, but
4. The demands made by the yearly meeting are not met, therefore,
5. Friends must subscribe funds, either in monthly or preparative
meetings.
6. The funds must be available for application for meetings. Friends are
so scattered and few that they cannot support a school alone and have
been forced to patronize “mixed schools.”
7. Those laboring under difficulties should be taught gratis, or at
least, at low rates.
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