A New Discovery of the Old Art of Teaching School, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
Of exerciſing Scholars in the Scriptures. Of uſing daily prayers, and ſinging Pſalms. Of taking notes at Sermons, and Examination after Sermons.
1. BEſides that courſe which we have preſcribed afore to every Form, of reading part of a Latine or Greek Chapter before parts; it is neceſsary for childrens more profiting in the Scriptures, to cauſe that an Engliſh Chapter he read every morning at the beginning, and every night at the giving over Teaching. And in this, every boy throughout the Schoole ſhould take his turn, that it may be known how perfect he is in reading Engliſh readily, and diſtinctly. Let him that is to read, take his place at a desk in the middle of the Schoole, and be ſure he ſpeak aloud, and let every one reverently attend to what is read, the lower boyes looking upon their Engliſh, and the higher upon their Latine Bibles. Thoſe alſo that are able to make uſe of the Septuagint in Greek, may doe well to procure them to look upon, eſpecially ſeeing they are now to be had at a far cheaper rate then formerly, bring but lately printed. When the Chapter is ended, you may demand of one in each Form what he obſerved, and let any one that is diſpoſed, take the liberty to ask his oppoſite a queſtion or two concerning ſome paſsage in it. Mr. Pagets Hiſtory of the Bible will aſſiſt them herein, ſo they look upon it, before the Chapter be read; you your ſelf may do well ſometimes to tell them what things are moſt remarkable in that preſent Chapter. The Scholars of the upper Formes may do well to carry Memoriale Biblicum conſtantly in their pocket, by which they may be put in minde at all times, what paſsages they may finde in any Chapter.
2. After the Chapter is ended, they may ſing the firſt, threeſcore and ſecond, the hundred, or hundreth and thirteenth Pſalm in Latine out of a little book formerly printed at Oxford, which one of the head Scholars ſhould diſtinctly read unto them.
3. When the Pſalm is done, the ſame Scholar ſhould repeat thoſe admonitions at the end of Nowels Catechiſme, and then the whole Schoole ſhould rehearſe thoſe Hymnes, which are there, the higher ſide of the Schoole ſaying one verſe, and the lower the next alternatum & conjunctis vocibus; and at laſt conclude with one of thoſe prayers for a bleſſing upon your endeavours.
Theſe Prayers and Pſalmes would be all writ together both in Engliſh and Latine in a little book, which would be neceſsary to be kept in the Schoole, for continuall, and daily uſe.
Some courſe would be taken that the Maſter may have notice what Scholars omit the reading of a Chapter at home every night after ſupper; but for this pious exerciſe (I hope) every Chriſtian Parent will be ready to call upon and encourage their own Children, or others that are under their charge, as Tablers.
Now that the good Schoolmaſter may more fully diſcharge his duty towards God and his Church (who have both entruſted him with the education of their children) to nurture and bring them up in the fear of the Lord; it were expedient, if a courſe could be taken, that he might meet them all at the Schoole every Lords day in the morning, about an hour afore Church-time, where he may take the opportunity, to inſtruct them in Catecheticall doctrines, according to what he may read in many excellent Books, that are as Expoſitions of the Lords prayer, the Creed, and the ten Commandements, and not wilde it in a tedious, unmethodized diſcourſe, concerning things unneceſsary to be taken notice of, and unmeet for children to be puſled with. And after a Pſalme ſung, and a Prayer ſaid, he may ſee them go all before him orderly by two and two to the Church, where it is requiſite that they ſhould have a convenient place appointed to ſit in together by themſelves, and all within the Maſters view. This would be an eſpeciall means to prevent that unreverent behaviour in the Church, which is too uſuall amongſt Scholars, when they are glad to wander into by-corners to ſit down to reſt (or rather chat) in, or are ever and anon moleſted with quarrelſome lads, or unmannerly fellowes, that are apt to diſquiet them, and thruſt them out of their places. I have heretofore obſerved how the ninth Canon of our Church religiouſly enjoynes every Schoole-maſter to ſee his Scholars quietly and ſoberly behave themſelves in the Church, and examine them at times convenient after their return, what they have borne away of any Sermon, which he cannot well doe, except he have them all confined to one place, where himſelf may ſit near them.
After Church-time ended in the afternoon, the Maſter may doe well to ſee all his Scholars go before him in like order to the Schoole, where he ſhould examine them, what they have heard or writ at the Sermon. Now in repeating Sermons, this courſe may be taken;
1. Let every one of the lower Scholars repeat the Te…t, or a Proof, or ſome little pious Sentence, which was then delivered. And theſe he ſhould get either by his own attention at the Church, or by the help of his fellowes afterwards. For there ſhould be no ſtirre made in the Church, upon pretence of getting notes there.
2. Thoſe in the four middle moſt Forms ſhould mind to write the Text, Doctrines, Reaſons, Uſes, Motives, and Directions, with the Quotations of Scripture places, as they are beſt able.
3. Theſe in the higheſt Form ſhould ſtrive to write as much, and in as good order as poſſibly may be; your ſelf now and then hinting to them ſome direction, what method they ſhould obſerve in writing Sermons, and that may diſgeſt what they have written into that order, wherein they heard it deliver'd; let them have a little time of reſpit amongſt themſelves, to compare their notes one with another, and to ſupply their defects, and amend what they have miſtaken. Then
4. You may firſt cauſe one of your higher Scholars to read diſtinctly what he hath written, and afterwards two or three of other Forms, whom you pleaſe to pick out; and laſt of all, let every one of the loweſt Form tell you what he hath obſerved of the Sermon.
Theſe things being orderly done, you may enlarge a little upon what point you think moſt neceſſary for them to remember, and practiſe, and conclude this holy dayes exerciſe, with ſinging of a Pſalm and devout prayers, and charging your Scholars to ſpend the reſt of the time in reading the Scriptures, and ſuch religious books as tend to their farther profiting in Chriſtian piety, you may comfortably diſmiſſe them to their ſeveral homes, and expect Gods bleſſing upon your endevours for the week following.