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.)
_In Witness_ whereof I
have hereunto set my hand cause the Great Seal to be affixed
dated at Philadelphia the five and twentieth day of the eighth
month in the thirteenth year of the reign of William the third
over England etc. King etc. and the one and twentieth of my
government Anno Domino one thousand seven hundred and one 1701.
Recorded the 5th 10th 1701.[169]
WM. PENN.
For Aaron K. DUNKEL, Sec’y of Internal Affairs, W. B. HUSTON.
[Sidenote: Rechartered in 1708, and 1711, extended privileges]
[Sidenote: Made a self-perpetuating corporation]
The charter of 1701 was confirmed and enlarged by another of 1708,[170]
according to which the corporation was to consist of fifteen persons
(Quakers) by the name of “The Overseers of the Public School, founded in
Philadelphia, at the request of, cost and charges of the people called
Quakers.” The charter of 1711[171] contained extended privileges[172]
and also provided that the election of new members of the board of
overseers should be the right of the overseers themselves, thus
constituting them a self-perpetuating corporation.[173] From this the
reader might expect that the school at once became independent of the
Friends’ meeting, but this did not occur, since the original members
or overseers were Friends and continued to appoint Friends as their
successors. Reports on the various details of the business of the
school continued to come into the monthly meeting, but it is not to be
considered that we find there a complete story of its existence.[174] In
1699 it was found that the affairs of the school took too much time in
meeting and therefore it was decided that Friends in the care of schools
and press should meet on sixth day before monthly meeting, transact their
business and keep a record thereof in books provided for the purpose.[175]
[Sidenote: Mistresses employed in schools]
The affairs of the school continued much the same as though no charter
had been requested or granted. The records lead one to think that the
growth was very rapid. Pastorius and Makin had become the masters in 1697
and by 1699 the indications are that “mistresses” were also employed,
money being turned over to Anthony Morris to “pay the schoolmasters’ and
the mistresses’ salaries.”[176] This is the first mention made of women
as teachers. Pastorius having severed his connections with the school
in 1701 steps were taken to fill the vacancy, it being decided that the
newcomer should show his ability by competing with the one remaining
master, Thomas Makin.[177]
[Sidenote: Cadwalader to fill vacancy made by Pastorius’ leaving]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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