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 curriculum in the Negro School (1770) consisted approximately of
the same subjects, though they may have been modified to some extent in
presentation, and restricted more or less to the rudiments. The subjects
of instruction mentioned when the school first began were reading,
writing, and arithmetic, and were to be taught under “prudent” and
“competent” direction.[893]
What books were used for the instruction in this curriculum of the
English and Lower schools? We cannot state absolutely in the case of all
studies, but we can judge with comparative certainty what books were most
available for their use.
[Sidenote: Books prominent for religious instruction in the schools]
[Sidenote: Bible]
[Sidenote: _Apology_ of Barclay, and Penn’s _Reflections_, _Maxims_, and
_Advice to His Children_]
In the case of those used for religious instruction, the meeting
records usually mentioned the name, which enables one to state with
absolute certainty that certain books were used. Bibles for the use of
schools were requested by the visiting committees of the overseers in
Philadelphia, for the use of poor scholars.[894] Other books of religious
and denominational character such as Penn’s _Reflections_, _Maxims_,
and _Advice to His Children_, are mentioned definitely by Darby,[895]
Horsham School Committee,[896] Sadsbury,[897] and Byberry Preparative
meetings[898] as being received for use in connection with the schools.
Byberry Preparative,[899] Radnor[900] and Sadsbury[901] monthly meetings
mention further the receipt of Barclay’s _Apologies_ for school use.
Besides these, which were undoubtedly used for school instruction, there
was a long list of journals, essays, letters, epistles, histories of
Friends, etc., which always were in the possession of each meeting and
may have been used indirectly at least. They will be mentioned more at
length in pages following.
[Sidenote: Books probably used in spelling]
The spelling book prepared by Fox and published in Philadelphia in
1702,[902] must have claimed a place in the Friends’ schools, though the
books are nowhere mentioned by name. The title of this book includes
reading, writing, spelling, and other things useful and necessary,
and may easily have served for other purposes than use in spelling
instruction. Other spellers, which became available from time to time,
were Benezet’s _Pennsylvania Spelling Book_ and _The Alphabet_ printed
by Henry Miller, 1770.[903] Among those which were used later in the
century, Prowell, in speaking of the schools in York County, notes
Comly’s, Cobb’s, and Webster’s.[904] From this array, which is no doubt
incomplete, we may judge the schools were well supplied.
[Sidenote: Primers likely to be used]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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