A New Discovery of the Old Art of Teaching School, Chapter 10
CHAP. IX.
Of Excluſion, and breaking up Schoole, and of Potations.
I Should here adde ſomething touching thoſe uſual cuſtomes which are yet on foot in moſt places, of Scholars excluding, or ſhutting out the Maſter once a year, and capitulating with him about orders to be obſerved, or the like; but foraſmuch as I ſee they differ very much, and are of late diſcontinued in many Schooles, I will onelyonly mention how they may be carried on, where they yet remain, without any conteſt, or diſturbance, till at laſt they dye of themſelves.
1. Therefore there ſhould be no Excluſion, till after Saint Andews day, and that the Maſter know of it before-hand, that all things may be ordered handſomely to the credit of the Schoole.
2. That at the time of Excluſion, the Scholars behave themſelves merrily and civilly about the Schoole, without injuring one another, or making uſe of any weapons, whereby to endanger themſelves, or doe harm to any thing in the Schoole.
3. That the Heads of each Form conſult with their fellowes, what things they would deſire of the Maſter, and that they bring their ſuites to the higheſt Scholar in the Schoole, that he may prefer them to the Maſter writ fairly in Latine, to receive his approbation or diſlike of them, in a milde way of arguing.
4. That the Maſter doe not moleſt, or come amongſt his Scholars, all the while they are drawing up their Petition about Schoole-orders, nor trouble himſelf concerning them, more then to hear that they keep good rule.
5. That every Scholar prepare all his Exerciſes, according to his Form, to be ready to be hanged out before the Schoole doors, or windowes (or rather to be hanged over his place within the Schoole, againſt the Maſters coming.
6. That the Maſter upon notice that all things are prepared for his coming, goe quietly to the Schoole, being accompanied with ſome of the Scholars Parents, and after he have before witneſſe ſubſcribed to their Petition at the door, to enter into the School in a peaceable and loving manner, and receive from his Scholars, (and alſo make to them) a ſhort congratulatory Oration, and ſo diſmiſſe them to play.
By thus doing, a Maſter ſhall both prevent his Scholars, behaving themſelves againſt him, in ſuch rude and tumultuous manner, as hath formerly been uſed; and give them and their Parents no occaſion to grudge at him, for ſeeming to take upon him too abruptly to break old uſe and custome; which ſo long as it becometh an encouragement to their learning, may the better be indulged to young Scholars, whileſt no evill conſequences attend it. It is yet a cuſtome retained in ſome Schooles in the Countrey, for Scholars to make a Potation or generall Feaſt once a yeare; (and that commonly before Shrovetide) towards defraying the charge whereof, every one bringeth ſo much money, as his Parents think good to allow him, and giveth it to the Maſter to be expended in a dinner orderly provided for them, or in ſome kinde of banquetting manner, which children are commonly more delighted withall; and for this there needeth no further direction then to ſay, that it concerneth the Maſter at ſuch times to be cheerfull and free in entertainment of his Scholars (whether at his own houſe or elſewhere) and to ſee that they keep ſuch order and moderation (eſpecially in drinking) that it may rather be a refreſhment and encouragement to them (as it is indeed intended) then any occaſion of diſtemper or debauched behaviour amongſt them. And after thanks given to God for his mercy towards them, in that particular expreſſion of joy and rejoycing one with another, the Scholars ſhould all goe together into the fields to take a little more liberty of Recreation, then ordinary; yet with an eſpecial regard had, that they catch no cold, or otherwiſe endanger their bodies.
In London, and moſt other places, the uſuall manner remaineth of Breaking up Schooles (for a time of intermiſſion of Studies, and viſiting of friends) about a week before Chriſtmas, Eaſter, and Whitſuntide, till the week following thoſe holy dayes begin, at which time every Scholar bringeth ſomething to the Maſter as a token of his own, and his Parents gratitude, for his care and love towards him. Now that the Maſter may alſo then teſtify his forwardneſſe to requite their courteſies, and encourage his Scholars, he ſhould every Breaking up day,
1. Provide ſome fitting Collation to be imparted and diſtributed by himſelfe to his Scholars, who will thankfully take a ſmall gift, as a token of more ſingular favour at his hands, then anothers.
2. Invite his Scholars Parents, together with ſuch Gentlemen and Miniſters, as he is better acquainted withall, as well to take notice of what his Scholars in every Form are able to doe, as to grace him with their company.
3. Let the Scholars in each Form be furniſhed with ſuch Exerciſes as belong to them, in looſe papers, and have all their Tranſlations writ fairly in their books, to be ready to ſhew to any one that ſhall deſire to look upon them. The higher Forms ſhould entertain the company with ſome elegant Latine Comedy out of Terence or Plautus, and part of a Greek one out of Ariſtophanes, as alſo with ſuch Orations, and Declamations, and Coppies of ſeveral ſorts of verſes, as are moſt proper for celebrating the ſolemnity of the time at hand, and to give ſatisfaction to the preſent meeting. The leſſer boyes ſhould remain orderly in their formes, to be ready to give anſwer to any one that ſhall examine them in what they have learnt, or would know what they are able to perform.
This, as it will be an encouragement to the Scholars to go on cheerfully at their books, ſo will it be an endearment of their friends to the Maſter, and a meanes to preſerve the credit of the Schoole againſt all virulous aſperſions, that are apt cauſeleſly, and too often to be caſt upon it, by unworthy and illiterate perſons.
It were neceſſary that ſuch orders as you would have your Scholars duely to obſerve, and the mulct to be undergone for every particular default, were fairely written in a Table, and hanged up in ſome eminent place in the Schoole, that every one may at any time take notice of them, and learn more readily to conform to your Diſcipline. I had thought here to have added another ſheet or two concerning Schoole-orders, and Scholars more decent Behaviour; but conſidering the preſent haſte of the preſs in finiſhing the work, and fearing leſt this little Book ſhould ſwell to too great a Bulke, I chooſe rather to deferre them till another opportunity. For, whileſt I intended onelyonly to give a few directions to the leſſe experienced for the better ordering of Grammar Scholars; I have run over moſt of the moſt conſiderable matters which concern the managing of a Schoole. Which, a man that is conſtant to his employment, loving towards children, diſcreet in his behaviour, a well grouuded Scholar, and an honeſt Chriſtian, deſirous to ſerve God cheerfully in the calling of a Schoole Maſter, may undoubtedly perform without any extraordinary toyle or diſturbance, either of minde or body. God in mercy enable me, and all that labour in this neceſſary profeſſion to perſevere in our duty, whatever diſcouragements may ſeem to attend it.