A New Discovery of the Old Art of Teaching School, Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
Wherein children, for whom the Latine tongue is thought to be unneceſſary, are to be employed after they can read Engliſh well.
IT is a fond conceit of many, that have either not attained, or by their own negligence have utterly loſt the uſe of the Latine Tongue, to think it altogether unneceſſary for ſuch children to learn it, as are intended for Trades, or to be kept as drudges at home, or employed about husbandry. For firſt there are few children, but (in their playing-years, and before they can be capable of any ſerious employment in the meaneſt calling that is) may be ſo far grounded in the Latine, as to finde that little ſmattering they have of it, to be of ſingular uſe to them, both for the underſtanding of the Engliſh Authors (which abound now a dayes with borrowed words) and the holding diſcourſe with a ſort of men that delight to flant it in Latine.
Secondly, Beſides I have heard it ſpoken to the great commendation of ſome Countries, where care is had for the well education of children, that every Peaſant (almoſt) is able to diſcourſe with a ſtranger in the Latine tongue; and why may not we here in England obtain the like praiſe, if we did but as they, continue our children at the Latine Schoole, till they be well acquainted with that language, and thereby better fitted for any calling.
Thirdly, And I am ſorry to adde, that the non-improvement of childrens time after they can read Engliſh any whit well, throweth open a gap to all looſe kinde of behaviour; for being then (as it is too commonly to be ſeen, eſpecially with the poorer ſort) taken from the Schoole, and permitted to run wildeing up and down without any control, they adventure to commit all manner of lewdneſſe, and ſo become a ſhame and diſhonour to their Friends and Countrey.
If theſe or the like reaſons therefore might prevail to perſwade them that have a prejudice againſt Latine, I would adviſe that all children might be put to the Grammar-Schoole, ſo ſoon as they can read Engliſh well; and ſuffered to continue at it, till ſome honeſt calling invite them thence; but if not, I would wiſh them rather to forbear it, then to become there an hinderance to others, whoſe work it is to learn that profitable Language. And that they may not ſquander away their time in idleneſs, it were good if they were put to a Writing-Schoole, where they might be, Firſt helped to keep their Engliſh, by reading of a chapter (at leaſt) once a day; and ſecond. taught to write a fair hand; and thirdly afterwards exerciſed in Arithmatique, and ſuch preparative Arts, as may make them compleatly fit to undergoe any ordinary calling. And being thus trained up in a way of diſcipline, they will afterwards prove more eaſily plyable to their Maſters commands.
Now, foraſmuch as few Grammar-Schooles of note will admit children into them, till they have learn't their Accidents; the teaching of that book, alſo becometh for the moſt part a work for a Petty-Schoole, where many that undertake to teach it, being altogether ignorant of the Latine Tongue, do ſorrily performe that taske, and ſpend a great deal of time about it to little or no purpoſe. I would have that book, therefore by ſuch let alone, and left to the Grammar-School, as moſt ſitting to be taught there onelyonly, becauſe it is intended as an introduction of Grammar, to guide children in a way of reading, writing, and ſpeaking Latine, and the Teachers of the Grammar-Art are moſt deeply concerned to make uſe of it for that end. And in ſtead of the Accidents, which they do neither underſtand nor profit by, they may be benefitted in reading Orthodoxal Catechiſmes and other Books, that may inſtruct them in the Duties of a Chriſtian, ſuch as are The Practiſe of Piety, The Practiſe of Quietneſſe, The whole duty of Man; and afterwards in other delightful books of Engliſh Hiſtory; as, The Hiſtory of Queen Elizabeth; or Poetry, as Herberts Poems, Quarl's Emblems; and by this means they will gain ſuch a habit and delight in reading, as to make it their chief recreation, when liberty is afforded them. And their acquaintance with good books will (by Gods bleſſing) be a means ſo to ſweeten their (otherwiſe ſowr) natures, that they may live comfortably towards themſelves, and amiably converſe with other perſons.
Yet if the Teacher of a Petty-Schoole have a pretty underſtanding of the Latine Tongue, he may the better adventure to teach the Accidents, and proceed in ſo doing with far more eaſe and profit to himſelf and learner, if he obſerve a ſure method of grounding his children in the Rudiments of Grammar, and preparing them to ſpeak and write familiar Latine, which I ſhall hereafter diſcover, having firſt ſet down ſomewhat how to remedy that defect in reading Engliſh, with which the Grammar-Schooles are very much troubled, eſpecially, where there is not a good Petty-Schoole to diſcharge that work afore-hand. And before I proceed further, I will expreſſe my minde in the two next chapters touching the erecting of a Petty-Schoole, and how it may probably flouriſh by good Order and Diſcipline.