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 foundation of the colony’s educational institutions had, however,
not been delayed till the formalities of “making” a colony were over.
Education received early consideration in the Frame of Government which
was drawn up from England by Penn and agreed to on April 25, 1682, before
he prepared to depart for Pennsylvania.[130] In that document it is
clearly set forth that education was the function of the civil authority,
though the intentions of the author were not realized fully for more
than a hundred and fifty years.[131] The same idea is present in each of
the three Frames of Government which were drawn up; the first, April 25,
1682;[132] the second, April 2, 1683;[133] and the third, November 7,
1696,[134] under Governor Markham. The instrument drawn on April 2, 1683,
contained in part the following stipulations, which bear the impression
of the Quaker ideal of education.
[Sidenote: The provisions]
Tenth. That the Governor and the Provincial Council shall erect
and order all public schools and encourage and reward the
authors of useful sciences and laudable inventions in the said
provinces and territories thereof.
Eleventh. That one-third of the Provincial Council residing
with the Governor from time to time shall, with the Governor,
have the care and management of public affairs relating to
peace, justice, treasury and improvement of the province
and territories, and to the good education of the youth,
and sobriety of the manner of the inhabitants therein
aforesaid.[135]
[Sidenote: Quaker Council provides a school]
The plan for education as above set forth was not destined to be the one
followed consistently for more than a century and a half of development,
though throughout the first decades the relations between the schools
of Friends and the governing Council were very close.[136] It is
significant that the first school was actually ordered by the Council, in
keeping with Penn’s provisions. About one year after Penn’s arrival in
Philadelphia the educational problem came to the attention of the Council
and received decided recognition, as the following witnesses:
The Governor and Provincial Council having taken into their
serious consideration the great necessity there is of a
schoolmaster for the instruction and sober education of the
youth in the town of Philadelphia, sent for Enock Flower,
an inhabitant of said town, who for twenty years past has
been exercised in that care and employment in England, to
whom having communicated their minds, he embraced it upon the
following terms: to learn to read English 4s by the quarter, to
learn to read and write 6s by the quarter, to learn to read,
write and cast accounts 8s by the quarter; for boarding a
scholar, that is to say, diet, washing, lodging, and schooling,
ten pounds for one whole year.[137]
[Sidenote: Additional provisions or books]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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