The Grammar School, Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
When the Schollar should first be set to the Schoole.
Spoud.
THat I may begin at the very first entrance of the Schoole:The first point. How soone the childe is to bee set to the schoole. let me inquire this of you, how soon you would hauehave your childe set vntounto the Schoole; for I thinke that worthie to be first knowen, if so bee, that you purpose to hauehave your schollar fitted for the vniuersitie by fifteene yeeres of age.
Phil.
I like your reason well, to enter there. But to the intent that I may more fully make knowen vntounto you, what I thinke and hauehave found in this behalfe, let mee heare first of you, as I wished in generall, at what age you vse in your countrey, to set your children to begin to learne.
Spoud.
For the time of their entrance with vsus, in our countrey schooles,The time of the first entrāce in countrey schooles, at 7. or 8. it is commonly about 7. or 8. yeeres olde: six is very soone. If any begin so early, they are rather sent to the schoole to keepe them from troubling the house at home, and from danger, and shrewd turnes, then for any great hope and desire their friends hauehave that they should learne anything in effect.The childe of any ordinary towardlinesse, to begin to learne about 5. yeere olde. Reasons.
Phil.
I finde that therein first is a very great want generally; for that the childe if hee be of any ordinary towardnesse and capacity, should begin at fiue yeere olde at the vttermost, or sooner rather. My reasons are these:
1 Because that then children will begin to conceiue of instruction,1. Because they are then meete to conceiue of learning and to delight in it. and to vnderstand; and bee able not onelyonly to knowe their letters, to spell and to reade, but also to take a delight therein, and to striue to goe before their fellowes. Experience heerein will quickely teach eueryevery one, who shall make triall of it, if so be that they doe follow a right course.
2 Verie reason must needes perswade eueryevery one of this.2. For that they are apt much sooner to learn shrewdnesse, & those things which are hurtfull. For, if they bee apt much before fiue yeeres of age, to learne shrewdnesse, and those things which are hurtfull, which they must …ee taught to vnlearne againe; why are they not as well fit to learne those things which are good and profitable for them, if they bee entred and drawen on in such a manner, as they may take a delight and finde a kinde of sport and plaie in the same. This delight may and ought to bee in all their progresse, and most of all in the first entrance, to make them the better to louelove the Schoole, and learning, as wee shall see after.
3 Many of them,3. To auoide much rudeness, and that too much sweetness which they feel in play and idlenesse. doe learne so much vntowardnesse and n…ughtinesse amongst other rude children, in that time before they come to schoole, that they are worse for it continually after: and also they feele such a sweetnesse in play and idlenesse, as they can hardly bee framed to leaue it, and to take a delight in their bookes without verie much adoe.
4 This first age,4 This age is most easily bē ded, and ac…ustomed to good things. is that wherein they are most plant, and may bee bended and fashioned most easily to any good course. And being thus accustomed to good things from their infancie, and kept so much as may bee, from all practice and sight of euill, custome becomes vntounto them another nature. So great a thing it is (according to the old prouerbe) to accustome children, euen from their render yeeres; and so vndoubtedly true is that common verse, Quo s…mel est imbuta recens seruabit odorem testa diû
5 Aboue all these,5 Two or three yeeres may be gained by this meanes, to fit thē sooner for the Vniuersitie or other imploiments, which is no small benefit. this is a principall benefit, that by this meanes two or three yeeres may well be gained, to fit your Schollar so much sooner for the Vniuersity or for any honest trade or calling. So that a child thus entred rightly, shall doe much more at eight yeeres olde, then an other so neglected can doe at tenne, or it may bee at eleuen or twelue. Also many such shall bee meete for trades and like imployments, when they hauehave no learning to fit them thereunto. This must needes bee a great griefe to the Parents of such, whose children hauehave so lost their time, as it is a ioy to others whose children hauehave been so well brought vp, when they see their children compared together.
6 Lastly,6 Parents ought to labour to see their childrens good educatiō before their eyes, so soone as may be. our time being so short▪ it much concerneth eueryevery parent, to see their children to hauehave the best education and instruction, which is the chiefe patrimonie, and the greatest comfort & hope both of the Parents and children, and also of their houses and posteritie. And this so soone as euer may be, to fit them for some profitable imploiment for Church or Common-wealth.
Spoud.
But they will say with vsus,Ob. It will hinder their growth. that it will hinder the growth of their children to bee set to schoole so young.
Phil.
Let the schoole be made vntounto them a place of play:A. The schoole being rightly vsed will not hinder any more thē their plaie. and the children drawne on by that pleasant delight which ought to be, it can then no more hinder their growth then their play doth, but rather further it, when they sit at their ease; besides that continuall experience doth confute this errour.
Spoud.
Bee it so as you say:Ob. 2. It will cause them to hate learning. yet this is a receiued opinion, that it will cause them to hate the schoole, when they should be set to it in good earnest.
Phil.
Nay rather it is clean contrarie:A They will rather louelove it better. for being acquainted with the schoole so young, and with the sport and pleasure which they finde amongst other children there; and also being kept from feeling the ouer much sweetnesse in play, it shall cause them to louelove & to delight in the schoole continually, and to goe on without any repining, or so much as thinking of being away from the schoole: wheras they being nuzled vp in play abroad, are very hardly reclaimed and weaned from it, to sticke to their bookes indeede.
Spoud.
But yet it is thought that they can get but little learning then,Ob. 3 It is a small matter to lose a yeere or two then. being so very young, and therefore there is the smaller losse of a yeere or two, at that time.
Phil.
The losse will bee found in the end, although it be indeed in the beginning.A The losse of a yeere or two will be found in the end. For looke how many yeeres they lose in the beginning if they bee apt, so many in the end they will be shorter, of such of their fellowes, who are but of their owne age, and applied all alike being of like capacitie. Therefore, as wee will not let them lose a day, when they growe towards the Vniuersitie, so neither should wee when they are young; but preuent this losse, and take the time in the beginning.
Spoud.
We see notwithstanding some very long ere euer they begin,Ob. 4. They will learn the faster. who then goe forward with it the fastest of all.
Phil.
It is true in some pregant wits, and who are industrious:A So in higher learning at those yeeres. but you shall …ue others as blockish and dull. Also, for those, if they goe so fas… in the rudiments and first grounds, how much more would they doe so at the same time in better studies? Neither can they hauehave halfe that learning in all things, which others of like age and aptnesse hauehave, who hauehave been well applyed from their first yeeres.
Spoud.
I yeelde to all which you hauehave saide in this behalfe; and I doe see plainely the exceeding benefites, that must needes come hereby, especially in gaining of time; if they may bee entred in that playing manner, and go forwarde with alacritie and contention; and moreouer so, that they be not any way ouerloaded or discouraged, nor yet in dangered, by the ouer charging of their wits and memories.
Phil.
For that take you no feare; you shall (God willing) see the euidence of that, and a plaine direction in euerie Chapter how to proceede in that easie and playing kinde. Therefore, if you be satisfied in this, let vsus come vntounto the next point.
Spoud.
Very gladly sir: for I long to heare this, how you would teach your childe being so young to read so soone and readily.
Phil.
I like the point well: proceed according to your order.