A New Discovery of the Old Art of Teaching School, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
Of the founding of a Petty-Schoole.
THe Petty-Schoole is the place where indeed the firſt Principles of all Religion and learning ought to be taught, and therefore rather deſerveth that more encouragement ſhould be given to the Teachers of it, then that it ſhould be left as a work for poor women, or others, whoſe neceſſities compel them to undertake it, as a meer ſhelter from beggery.
Out of this conſideration it is (perhaps) that ſome nobler ſpirits, whom God hath enriched with an over-plus of outward means, have in ſome places whereunto they have been by birth (or otherwiſe) related, erected Petty-Schoole-houſes, and endowed them with yearly ſalaries; but thoſe are ſo inconſiderate towards the maintenance of a Maſter and his familie, or ſo over-cloyed with a number of Free-Scholars, to be taught for nothing, that few men of parts will daigne to accept of them, or continue at them for any while; and for this cauſe I have obſerved ſuch weak foundations to fall to nothing.
Yet if any one be deſireous to contribute towards ſuch an eminent work of charity, my advice is, that he erect a Schoole and dwelling houſe together, about the middle of a Market-Town, or ſome populous Country-Village, and acomodate it with a ſafe yard adjoyning to it, if not with an Orchard or Garden, and that he endow, with a ſalary of (at leaſt twenty pounds, per annum, in conſideration whereof all ſuch poor boyes as can conveniently frequent it, may be taught gratis, but the more able ſort of neighbours may pay for childrens teaching, as if the Schoole was not free; for they will find it no ſmall advantage to have ſuch a Schoole amongſt them.
Such a yearly ſtipend and convenient dwelling, with a liberty to take young children to board, and to make what advantage he can beſt by other Scholars, will invite a man of good parts to undertake the charge, and excite him to the diligent and conſtant performance of his duty; eſpecially, if he be choſen into the place by three or four honeſt and diſcreet Truſtees, that may have power alſo to remove him thence, if by his uncivil behaviour, or groſe neglect he render himſelf uncapable to perform ſo neceſſary a ſervice to the Church and Common-Wealth.
As for the Qualifications of one that is to be the Teacher of a Petty-Schoole, I would have him to be a Perſon of a pious, ſober, comely and diſcreet behaviour, and tenderly affectionate towards children, haveing ſome knowledge of the Latine Tongue, and abilitie to write a fair hand, and good skil in Arithmetick, and then let him move within the compaſſe of his own orb, ſo as to teach all his Scholars (as they become capable) to read Engliſh very well, and afterwards to write and caſt accouts. And let him not meddle at all with teaching the Accidents, except onelyonly to ſome more pregnant wits, which are intended to be ſet forwards to learn Latine, and for ſuch be ſure that he ground them well, or elſe diſmiſſe them as ſoon as they can read diſtinctly, and write legibly, to the Grammar School.
I ſhould here have cloſed my diſcourſe; and ſhut up this Petty-Schoole, were it not that I received a model for the maintaining of Students from a worthy friends hands (& one that is moſt zealouſly and charitably addicted to advance Learning, and to help it in its very beginnings to come forwards to its full Riſe) by which I am encouraged to addreſſe my remaining words to the Godly-minded Truſtees and Subſcribers for ſo good a work, (eſpecially to thoſe amongſt them that know me, and my School-endeavours) and this I humbly requeſt of them, that as they have happily contrived a Model for the education of Students, and brought it on a ſuddain to a great degree of perfection, ſo they would alſo put to their hands for the improvement of Schoole-learning, without which ſuch choiſe abilities as they aim at in order to the Miniſtry cannot poſſibly be obtained. And for the firſt foundation of ſuch a work; I preſume to offer my adviſe, that in ſome convenient places, within and about the City, there may be Petty-Schooles erected, according to the number of wards, unto which certain poor children out of every Pariſh may be ſent, and taught gratis, and all others that pleaſe to ſend their children thither may have them taught at a reaſonable rate, and be ſure to have them improved to the utmoſt of what they are capable. And I am the rather induced to propound ſuch a thing, becauſe that late eminent, Dr. Bathurſt lately deceaſed, Mr. Gouge and ſome others yet living did out of their own good affection to learning, endeavour at their own charge to promote the like.