The Grammar School, Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI.
Helpes in the schoole.
Spoud.
BVt be it so,Helpes besides the Vsher. that you be destitute of an Vsher; or hauing an Vsher, yet your number is so many, as you are not able to goe thorough them all, in that sort that were meete: what helpe would you vse then?
Phil.
My helpes are of two sorts; generall or particular. My generall helpes which are common to all schooles, euen where there are Vshers, are these:
1. That which was noted amongst the generall obseruations;1. Helpe in Schooles, fewnesse of the fourmes. to hauehave all my schoole sorted into fourmes or Classes, and those so few as may be: though twenty in a fourme or moe, the better, as was sayd; and my fourmes diuided into equall parts. This shall gaine one halfe of time, for the reasons there mentioned.
2. In eueryevery fourme this may bee a notable helpe,2. Seniors in each fourme. that the two or fowre seniors in each fourme, be as Vshers in that fourme, for ouerseeing, directing, examining, and fitting the rest eueryevery way before they come to say; and so for ouerseeing the exercises.
Also in straights of time, to stand forth before the rest, and to heare them. The Master to hauehave an eie and see carefully that they deale faithfully, and make some short examination after. And in all lectures those two Seniors to be blamed principally for the negligence of their sides, and contrarily to be commended for their diligence. This may bee a second and a very great helpe: like as it is in an army, where they hauehave their vnderunder-officers for hundreths or for tennes; as Decuriones, Centuriones, &c. for the speciall gouernment of all vnderunder them. These who thus take most paines with the rest, shall stil euer keep to be the best of the fourmes.
A third might be added:3. Authority. which is Authority and good Gouernment, which indeed is aboue all. But of that it will be fitter to speake by it selfe.
The particular help where either an Vsher is wanting,Particular help. or else is not sufficient,Subdoctor in place of the Vsher, or where the Vsher is not sufficient. is by a Subdoctor, one or mo, according to the number of the schollars. The Subdoctor is to be appointed out of all your highest fourmes▪ eueryevery one to be his day insteed of an Vsher, to do those things which the Vsher should, according to their abilities; and so to obserue the behauior of all vnderunder them.
Spoud.
These cannot but bee very worthy helpes. But here I pray you resolue me a doubt or two, arising hereon.
1. How will you diuide your schoole thus, and especially your fourmes, for the appointing of your Seniors, that eueryevery one in a fourm may be placed according to his learning? which I take to be very necessary; so as they shall not thinke, that any are preferred by the fauour of the Master: also that all may sit as Aduersaries and fit matches, and so to hauehave sides equally diuided, to doe all by that emulation, and honest strift and contention, which you spake of.
Phil.
For my fourmes I would put so many in a fourm,Sorting the fourmes so many together as may be. as possibly can goe together, as was noted: the better will be continuall helpers to the other, and much drawe on the worse.
Secondly, for the diuision of my fourms, and election of Seniors, I finde this the only way to cut off all quarrelling, and to prouoke all to a continuall contention;
1. By voices; all of a fourme to name who is the best of their fourme,Choise & matching each fourme. and so who is the best next him. Those who hauehave the most voices, to bee the two Seniours of the fourme. These they will choose very certainly. Then to the ende to make equall sides; let the second or Iunior of those two so chosen, call vntounto himselfe the best which hee can, to make his side.
After that, let the first choose the best next; then after, the second and his fellow, to choose the best next to them again: And thus to go thorough choosing vntil they hauehave chosen all the fourme. The two Seniours, I say, to be chosen by electiō of the whole fourm: then they two to choose, or call the rest of the fourm by equall election; the Iunior choosing first and so to go by course: If the Senior should choose first, then his side would euer be the better; which by the Iunior choosing first is preuented.
By this meanes you shall find that they will choose very equally,☞ and without partialitie,Benefits of this election. to the end that each may hauehave the best fellowes; euen as gamesters will do at matches in shooting, bowling or the like: and eueryevery match shal be very equall, or small difference amongst them.
Also hereby all mutterings shall be cut off, wherby some kind boyes will bee whispering to their Parents, that their Master doth not regard no… louelove them, but preferres others before them. Thus also the painefull shall be incouraged, when they find themselues preferred by the iudgement of all their fellowes; and each made to striue daily to bee as good as his match or aduersary, and for the credite of their side: and finally, they wil labor that they may be preferred at the next election; or at least, not bee put downe with disgrace. This election would be made oftener amongst the younger, as once in a monethmonth at least; because their diligence and quicknesse will much alter: Amongst the Senior fourmes once in a quarter may suffice; yet at the Masters discretion.
Spoud.
This election surely is most equall, and the benefits of it must needs be very great according to that which you hauehave sayd; and chiefly to helpe as much as any one thing to make the schoole to be indeede a pleasant place of honest,This a chiefe means to make the schoole Ludu… literari… schollarlike, sweete and earnest contention. But you spake of a third generall helpe, which might be added, which you sayd was aboue all; to wit good gouernment: of this I do desire to heare.