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.)
Robert Willian was employed in 1748, having been brought from England, to
teach Latin, Greek and other learning.[1070] His first term of employment
was for one year, as was the Board’s general custom in hiring teachers,
but it seems that his contract was renewed until 1753, at which time his
place was taken by John Wilson.[1071] Wilson had entered the school’s
employ as usher in 1750, but was, in addition to that, granted permission
to teach an evening school.[1072] It is not known how long he remained as
master, but in 1754 there was a proposition to allow J. King to go into
the Latin School,[1073] and it is likely he took Wilson’s place. King,
however, as stated elsewhere, did not remain there more than a year,
because of ill health and inclination.[1074] Wilson is later mentioned in
connection with the Latin school (1769); how much of the time, between
1754 and 1769 he had spent in the Latin School it is impossible to say.
[Sidenote: Latin School tries to obtain services of Jackson]
[Sidenote: Thompson engaged, however]
[Sidenote: His training and later interests.]
When King (1755) announced his intention to resign at the end of six
months, the Board attempted to procure Paul Jackson, who at the time
was instructor at the Academy.[1075] Jackson was well qualified for
the place and, besides his work at the Academy, had prepared lectures
in “experimental philosophy” which he proposed to give for the
“entertainment of the curious.”[1076] He did not find himself free at
this time to remove from the employ of the trustees of that institution,
but Charles Thompson, who had been employed there as usher was engaged
for the Friends’ School.[1077] It seems that the logical man for the
place would have been William Johnson, who first taught a school at
Fairhill[1078] (1753) and attended Latin School, free of charge, to
prepare him to be an usher (1754).[1079] The headship was not offered
him, however,[1080] but a year later his salary for the assistantship
was raised £20 to keep him from going to Burlington.[1081] We find that
Charles Thompson (from the Academy) remained in the Friends’ School
until 1760, when he decided to leave the business of school keeping for
another.[1082] His first training in Latin, Greek, and mathematics was
gained in Alison’s Seminary. After leaving the Friends’ School he was
interested in political life and became secretary of the Revolutionary
Congress in 1775.[1083]
[Sidenote: Robert Proud recommended for master]
[Sidenote: Time of his service]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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