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.)
We, the trustees appointed by the meeting to have the care of
the schools under the direction of the meeting, do inform,
agreeable to our trust, we have several times met within the
year past at the school in order to encourage the children in
their learning, also to see that good order be kept by the
master and children and we believe this a good measure complied
with, and we further inform, that we have endeavored to comply
with the intentions of the donor, by distributing the donations
of William Carter, by schooling such children as we apprehended
proper objects and have engaged as many as to take most of the
money now in hand. (Clerk asked to give the committee a copy
of the monthly meetings extracts that they comply with the
regulations concerning schools.)[308]
[Sidenote: Summary of a later report]
The gist of their report six months thereafter is as follows:[309]
1. The trustees have met several times at the school in the last six
months.
2. Afternoons are usually spent hearing the scholars read and in
examining their learning.
3. The masters keep strictly the rules, which the trustees have laid down.
4. We believe the school is kept in good order.
[Sidenote: School house to be enlarged]
In 1792 it was considered necessary to enlarge the schoolhouse to make
adequate facilities for the increasing number of children. The committee
appointed on the subject decided there should be an addition of ten feet
for the length; their suggestion was approved and a subscription begun
to carry forward the work as speedily as could be done.[310] Thomas
Walmsley was appointed to have oversight of the work.[311] The status of
the school at the end of the century is stated in the report to Horsham
Monthly Meeting, as follows:
[Sidenote: School’s status at end of century]
We have one school under the care of the meeting, to which
our members send their children, except some Friends who live
remote. It is supported by subscription; the tutor is a Friend
and we believe endeavors to discharge the important trust
committed to him. The children of such as are in straightened
circumstances are schooled by donations left for that purpose—A
committee appointed by the meeting frequently visits the said
school and reports the state thereof.[312]
GERMANTOWN
[Sidenote: Pastorius in Philadelphia]
It has already been mentioned that Francis Daniel Pastorius taught
in the Friends School at Philadelphia during the period from 1697 to
1700.[313] While in the school at Philadelphia it appears that he left
his residence at Germantown vacant and took up his abode in the city.
The following letter, written by his children, to their grandfather in
Windsheim, indicates their longing for their “own home” at Germantown and
the tedium of their school days in the Philadelphia school.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account