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.)
Rebeckah Burchall, employed near the same time as Ann Thornton, was
engaged in teaching poor children.[1018] It was also stipulated that she
guard the girls in meetings, especially her pupils.[1019] So in 1755,
had we entered the quiet Friends’ meeting we would have no doubt seen
the two prim Quaker ladies just mentioned sitting in silent and upright
watchfulness amid their youthful charges. Gentlemen were not immune from
such duties.
[Sidenote: Several other mistresses named, many in charge of poor
children]
Widow Mellor is mentioned in 1755 as keeping a small school,[1020] which
probably was quite similar to the one kept by Debby Godfrey, a poor woman
to whom the board decided to send some poor children to learn to read
and write.[1021] The minute reads as though it was a condescension, and
very likely it was a form of charity on their part. Jane Loftu, likewise,
(1761) taught thirty-two poor children, her charge made to the board for
the service being £32.[1022] Ann Redman seems to have been a teacher of
more than ordinary merit. She is first noted as a teacher at the Fairhill
School, at which place she was visited by members of the Public School
Board, who seem to have been so well impressed with her as a teacher
that she was immediately asked to come into the school just vacated by
Rebekah Burchall. Her employment was teaching reading, writing, and
plain sewing.[1023] Mary Wily, a teacher employed by the board in 1762,
received very little attention. A question is raised concerning her,
however, by an objection made by the board to her account presented for
certain schooling.[1024] It was settled amicably it seems. Ann Pattison,
first mentioned as being employed in 1763,[1025] is doubtless the same
as the Patterson later employed in 1766.[1026] She was employed in
teaching poor children. Mary Gosnold, Rebecca Seaton, and Mary Moss are
mentioned in 1764 as teachers of poor children.[1027] Rebecca Seaton does
not appear in the ranks of teachers (at least on Friends’ records) till
after the death of Alexander Seaton, her husband. It seems quite evident
that the mistresses were assigned, more especially, to the keeping of
school for the poor, though it was by no means limited to them. Sarah
Mott was also a teacher for poor children.[1028]
[Sidenote: Subjects of instruction; reading, writing, sewing, spelling,
and other “suitable subjects for girls”]
[Sidenote: Other denominations in Friends schools]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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