The Grammar School, Chapter 24
CHAP. XXIIII.
Some things necessary to be knowne, for the better attaining of all the partes of Learning mentioned.
1 How the Schoolemaster should be qualified.
Spoud.
My first question shall bee this:How the Schoolemaster should be qualified. How you would hauehave your Schoolemaster qualified, to be able to doe all these in this manner: hee had not neede to be eueryevery ordinary man.
Phil.
I will answere you, how I thinke it necessary, that the Schoolemaster should be qualified.
1 To be such a one as is sufficient to direct his Schollars in the things mentioned,1 Sufficient to direct his Schollars. Or tractable. or in better; according as the learning of his Schollars shall require: or at least such a one as is tractable, and not conceited, though his ability be the meaner; and who will willingly vse any helpe or direction, to fit him hereunto. Neyther is there any thing here, but that any one meere to be admitted to that place, may by his labour and diligence (following but euen this direction) attaine vntounto in short time, through the blessing of God.
2 He must resolue to be painefull and constant in the best courses;2 Painefull and constant, of conscience to God. of conscience, to do a speciall seruice to God in his place: to be alwayes vponupon his worke, during schoole times; neuer absent from his place or office more then vppon vrgent necessity.
To cast aside all other studies for the time of his schoole,To cast off all other studies for schoole times. I meane in the greater Grammar schooles: his eye to be on eueryevery one and their behauiours, and that nothing bee wanting to them: his minde vponupon their taskes and profiting;Not to post ouer the trust to others. not posting ouer the trust to others, for hearing parts or Lectures, or examining exercises, so farre as his owne leisure will serue. For he shall sensibly discerne a neglect, euen in the best where they hauehave any hope to escape the Masters own view. One day omitted shall make them worse two dayes after. The Masters eye must feede the horse: therefore where he is compelled to vse the helpe of some schollars, he is to see that they deale faithfully, and to take some short tryall of them after.
3 Hee should be of a louing and gentle disposition with grauitie;3 Of a louing disposition to incourage all by praise and rewards. or such a one as will frame himselfe vntounto it; and to incourage his schollars by due praise, rewards, and an honest emulation; who also dislikes vttery all seuerity, more then for necessity: yet so as that he be quicke and cheerefull▪ to put life into all, and who cannot indure to see sluggishnesse or idlenesse in any, much lesse any vngratiousnesse; and therefore can vse also not onelyonly sharpenesse, but euen seuerity with discretion where neede is.
4 Hee ought to bee a godly man, of a good carriage in all his conuersation,4 A godly man and of good carriage. to gaine louelove and reuerence thereby. And therefore to auoyde carefully all lightnesse,To seeke to gain and maintaine his authothority, & how. and ouer-much familiarity with boyes, or whatsoeuer may diminish his estimation and authority. And also to the end that God may grace him with authority, to aime in all his labour, not at his owne priuate gaine or credite, but how he may most honour God in his place, doe the best seruice to his Church, and most profite the children committed to him. To expect the blessing of his labours only from the Lord, and to ascribe all the praise vntounto him alone. Thus to serue forth his time, so long as he remaines therein, that he may be euer acceptable vntounto the Lord, looking (as was said) for his chiefe reward from him.
Spoud.
Indeede Sir, such a man cannot doubt of a blessing, and a reward from the Lord: yet neverthelesse he had neede hauehave good helpe, and also to bee well rewarded and incouraged from men, at least by them with whose children hee takes these paines. You thinke it then necessary that he should hauehave an Vsher: I pray you let me heare, your iudgement of this, and what a one you would hauehave his Vsher to be.