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description of Ackworth School

From Some account of the life and religious labours of Sarah Grubb, with an appendix, containing an account of Ackworth school, Third edition, pp231-251, 1796.

SOME
ACCOUNT
OF
ACKWORTH SCHOOL
ADDRESSED TO A
FRIEND IN AMERICA.

Dear Friend,

THE following imperfect account of Ackworth school is presented to thee, in confidence that thou wilt not expose it; and yet with a hope that it may privately aid thy endeavours to establish a school, for the religious education of youth, in another part of the world; an engagement worthy of thyself, but requiring something better to render it truly successful.

As religious concerns cannot, any more than those of a civil nature, be rightly carried forward without order and method, it becomes a very important inquiry, what rules and adjustments of things pertaining thereto, and consistent with the spirituality of their origin; and when these are found, they call for great care in officers and their superintendants, to keep them in their proper places, lest that which is begun in the spirit, should be sought to be made perfect in the flesh.

There is a moral rectitude, fabricated in human wisdom, which is beautiful to the natural eye, seizes on the passions, and draws, from a superficial judgement, an inconsiderate approbation of what, perhaps, when it is scrutinized into, has sprung from a love of popular applause; and tends to settle those who are active in it, in a rest and enjoyment of the work of their own hands.

To know the first spring of action, is a noble attainment; and if it prove pure, then carefully to keep it so, is a work (thou well knowest) of far greater magnitude; and which will tend more to the regulation of a school, than a fine-spun system of positive rules, untinctured with faith in the sufficiency of divine aid, immediately communicated. To obtain a right form is surely of absolute necessity, because regularity is one of the wheels whereby the intended work is to be effected; and perhaps some useful order may be gathered from the following pages, which I hope will not be implicitly adopted. Indeed, i have been thoughtful, in the course of my penning them, whether such as are rightly influenced to promote an education consistent with our holy profession, would not be better furnished with qualifications to settle even civil concerns, without a model of the experience of others; seeing that the fountain of divine wisdom is inexhaustible; that for the conducting of temporal things, there can be no order like that which immediately flows from it; and that a very small digression of our attention from this source, is often succeeded by many erroneous steps. To thy prudence, therefore, I commit this little work, believing thou wilt not use it improperly. If it afford thee any useful reflections, in times of relaxation from the weight of gospel service, be the means of opening for me a door of access into thy closet, make me a partaker of thy treasure, and sometimes revive me in thy rememberance for good, I shall be fully satisfied.

One observations further occurs to my mind, for which, as this is all a piece of freedon, I shall not apologize. As nothing can be said to be truly religious (whatever the first design may be), but what is religiously conducted, a very special care ought to be maintained to the pointings of Truth, in choosing instructors and servants for a school; who should be more directed to the school of Christ themselves, than loaded with injunctions about trivial matters, and their conformity to the considered as their qualifications. No law or rule out to be so framed, as to interfere with their religious duties; and when any make a wrong use of the liberty Truth allows, great care should be exercised, lest alterations take place, which have a tendancy to circumscribe the righteous with the transgressor; for where this is the case, people of an outwardly steady conduct, a cringing temper, and who know but little about revealed religion, seem to be most adapted to such an institution. These may, to the utmost of their natural abilities, preserve order, and prefer the works which most recommend them to those in superior power; being as earnest in their endeavours, as any, to promote the establishment of civil authority, and of a great many specious forms: but the vitals of the instiution being oppressed, and the spirit and life of every act of duty to the children, and of Christian dicipline amongst them, disregarded, the whole body must gradually grow diseased and corrupted.

Education is a subject so copious, when unfolded to the inward attention of those to whom the care of children is rightly committed, as to require a better assisted pen than mine, to do it justice; but this I believe, that simplicity, godly sincerity, and a righteous zeal and tenderness, with an improving and imparting knowledge of useful things, can hardly fail of rendering a person who is under a secret sense of duty, qualified to undertake it. To be sensible of the divine influence, to propagate the knowledge of it, and so to prefer it to all other considerations, as to walk worthy of its blessing being shed upon our endeavours, is the Alpha, and the Omega, of our profession.

That "The blessing of heaven above, and of the deep that lieth under," may rest upon thee, dear friend, crown all thy labours, sweeten all thy bitter cups, and render invincible the habitation of thy spirit; when storms may assail it, and discouragements wait at the threshold of its door; is the present servent breathing of thy truly affectionate friend,
SARAH GRUBB.

Foston, 1st month 5th, 1786.

Contents

  1. SECT. I.
  2. SECT. II.
  3. SECT. III.
  4. SECT. IV.
  5. SECT. V.
  6. SECT. VI.

SECT. I.

Ackworth school is an institution intended for the religious education of children, members of our society, between the age of nine * and fourteen, and particularly of those whose parents are not in affluent circumstances. It admits of three hundred, viz. one hundred and eighty boys, and one hundred and twenty girls. They are paid for, at their entrance, by a bill of admittance of eight guineas value; for which they are provided with board, learning, clothing, and other necessaried, for one year. Four shillings and four pence are also then deposited, as an allowance of one penny per week for pocket money. This school is under the immediate care of two committees, in each of which there are twenty-eight members. One is constituted of friends of London, and held there; the other of friends in the neighbourhood of Ackworth; divers of whom are twenty, thirty, and some forty, miles distant from the place.

[* The present limitation of age is between eight and fourteen]

Each committee meets once a month; when the general state of the institution is considered, particular regulations proposed, complaints received, the intended resignation of services reported, and friends appointed to inquire for a supply of assistants, &c. &c.

As it often happens that divers friends are at Ackworth the night before the sitting of the committee, or early in the morning, three of them inspect all bills of parcels, and the treasurer's accounts, and report to the committee the state thereof, the number of children admitted and returned since last month, and those that are upon the list for admittance. Others examine the improvement of such as are likely to depart the ensuing month; and, generally, religious opportunities are taken with them, and an account given thereof to the committee. Copies of the minutes of each committee are transmitted to one another, and neither of them conclude upon anything new, of importance, without mutual approbation. Several friends, once a year, give up to an appointment to spend some time in the house, in order to value the stock, to settle all accounts, and to take a more general and minute survey of the state of the family, than could be done at any other time with so much propriety: and generally, on visits to the family, at other times, the company of women friends has been desired, a number having their names down on the committee's books for such services. Agents are appointed in each county, who undertake to negociate the business between those who send the children, and the institution, by providing bills of admittance and certificates, and giving notice of their reainess, &c.

A general meeting is held at Ackworth once a year, constituted of friends appointed to attend it from the several Quarterly meetings. Here the state of the institution is intended to be laid open; all subjects of doubt, and especially such as the two committees oculd not agree upon, to be referred for candid discussion and determination; and new regulations or rules established.

A large number of friends from distant parts, is appointed to inspect the children's advances in learning, &c. and to obtain a knowledge of their teachers' abilities; a free and honest representation whereof is thought absolutely necessary. This general meeting adjorns to a suitable time in the London yearly meeting week*, when their minutes are read, and a report made from thence to the yearly meeting at large.

[* At present (1796) the adjournment is made ot the sixth-day, previous to the yearly meeting.]

N.B. The inspection of the female side of the house is committed to the women friends assembled at the general meeting at Ackworth, who appoint different committees to examine the different departments, have free conferences with the officers, inspect the girls improvements, take religious opportunities with them, and report the substance of their observations, and the propriety of such ammendments as occur to them thereupon; after which, minutes are formed, and a copy of them sent into the men's meeting.

SECT. II.

There are, stationed in the family, a treasurer and his wife, to whom is committed the superintendence of the whole †.

[† By an alteration made by the general meeting in 1795, the principal officer at Ackworth is stiled superintendant.]

The boys have generally four or five masters, whose salaries are from 24 to 100l*. per annum, intended as proportionate to their services, and abilities; and there are also some apprentices. The number of schools is four, and the masters keep much to the distinct branches of learning for which they are best qualified; as one, reading; another, writing; a third, arithmetic; &c. and the children pass in classes from school to school, except the little ones, who are principally kept under the care of one master.

[100l. was the salary of the principal master; but this office being discontinued, no salary is now so high.]

The apartments for teaching are so commodious as to render all crowding unnecessary, especially at writing; the desks, though in one continued length, have nevertheless such divisions, by openings for each boy's books, &c. that there need not be any interference, if they keep their places.

Ten or twelve of the eldest and most solid boys are chosen monitors, who lend some assistance in the schools, particularly in settling the children to their places, and taking care that each has his own.

About ten minutes before every meal, a bell is rung, at which the children are quickly collected in ranks, either on the open ground, or under a colonade which shelters from wet and heat. The masters stand in front, in their own divisions, whilst the monitors survey them behind and before, taking care that their buckles are in order, their hair combed, and, if any be dirty, to send them to wash. Here the masters have a frequent opportunity of making useful observations, giving general directions, admisitering counsel, and selection out offenders for the table of disgrace; which is no otherwise distinguished, than by being detatched from the rest, and having no cloth upon it.

When the second bell rings for meals, they advance in couples with great regularity to the dining room (the least going first), and divide at the foot of the table, one going up on one side, and the other on the other; by which means they are seated with dexterity and expedition. A general silence immediately ensues, which, by an intimation from one of the masters, is soon broke, and all begin their meal; but no conversation louder than a whisper is allowed, during the time of eating, and no more in that manner than is necessary for transfering their victuals from one to another; when some have too much, and others too little, the latter of which are freely supplied by the masters, if they ask.

When all appetites appear satisfied, and a meal is ended, silence again takes place, after which, with an intimation of quietude and sedateness, they are beckoned to depart. They unite again in couples at the foot of the table where they parted, and walk steadily out of the room into the places appointed for play, where they disperse. It is thought necessary, that one of the masters should bestow a general oversight of them in these times of relaxation; with no more interference than is absolutely necesssary.

SECT. III.

The same order is observed amongst the girls, as with the boys, at school and meals; they have seldom less than four mistresses, whose salaries are from 12 to 25l. per annum. These teach sewing, knitting, spinning flax, reading, and the English grammar. Writing and arithmetic are also taught by one of the masters, who is particularly set at liberty, part of every day, for that purpose, and has a certain division of girls each time; but the committees are desirous that some of the female teachers should be qualified to instruct in these branches of learning*.

[* These branches are now taught by female instructors.]

A wise attention is paid in the girls schools to quietude and regularity: each is to know her own business, and the time for applying for instruciton about her work, &c. There are two or three apprentices for whom there is a considerable sphere of action, in assisting the mistresses, as there are many more articles of care amongst the girls than the boys; such as large stocks of goods to be made up into wearing apparel, cutting out work, teaching various branches of the executive part, and dealing out haberdasheries to the children. A discreet allotment of care and employ to these, preserves the mistresses from too oppressive a load of anxiety about smaller matters, and gives them an opportunity, in their respective schools, to cherish a necessary recollection of mind, enabling them more sensibly to partake of a measure of divine strength, by which alone they can govern with right authority and tenderness. They have also monitors of their own sex, who have similar offices to the boys. The reading mistress has seldom more than one class in her school at a time, which consists of six or eight, and they read paragraph by paragraph, all standing so remote from her, as to render a proper exertin of their voices necessary, by which they are inured to read audibly.

The mistress or assistant teacher, to whom is committed the care of spinning, attends to that employ only a few hours each day; the rest of her time being taken up with mending the children's linen, especially that of the little ones, and instructing five or six girls at a time in that art; having them, and that kind of work, in a room wholly set at liberty for the purpose.

The eldest girls take it in turns, one or two at a time, to assist the manutua-maker, who is supplied with plenty of work. They also take it in turns to work with the laundress every week, in washing, and getting up small linen, and in waiting at meal-times at the house-keeper's table; and one in turn is under the peculiar direction of the treasurer's wife, who keeps her pretty much to her own parlour, and employed in her work. Two of the girls are weekly appointed to sweep the lodging rooms every day, and all the girls make their own beds, (as they sleep in couples), which are curled hair mattresses laid upon rails; they have a bolster, an under blanket, a pair of sheets, two upper blankets, and a counterpane of single furniture check, but no curtains. A chest with partitions stands at the head of every bed, and furnishes two girls with conveniences for the keeping of their clothes, having two drawers at the bottom for their small linen.

Their apparel in general, and especially such as passes through the washings, is marked with the initials of their names, and the number of their bill of admittance.

The girls are provided with work by the institution; and, for their improvement, finer needle-work, than the family can furnish them with, is taken in for hire; and when that falls short, childbed linen is sometimes made to sell, in which superfluous work is guarded against.

The girls and boys go to bed in the same order; and all their clothing is so folded up, and laid upon their chests, that though there are twenty or thirty beds in a room, yet after they are settled in bed, there is scarcely one article of clothing out of its proper place, and consequently no interference in putting them on. The lodging rooms have several ventilators in the ceiling. One or more of the mistresses, or steady apprentices, sleep in each, and a healthy cheerfulness and decorum are preserved through the whole.

SECT. IV.

At meeting, the boys and girls enter in the same method; the boys first, a master leading the way, the least children immediately follow, and are seated on the uppermost cross forms, the rest regularly succeeding according to their height; and coming in by couples, they fill two benches at a time, and very soon all get settled. The monitors are placed on a side bench, which gives them an opportunity of inspecting the behaviour of the other children, and of instructing them by their example; the masters and mistresses are placed at little distances, on a seat one step higher, by which they can oversee the whole. They depart with no less regularity then they come in, the children joining again in couples; and in suitable weather, they take a circular walk round the area in the front of the house; after which, they are advised to retire to reading, a considerable library of friends' books being provided, part whereof is produced on a First-day.

The children every evening settle to read, the boys and girls separately; and they all, with the family, are collected once a week for that purpose; previous to which, they quietly settle down in silence for a little while; then one of the masters reads a chapter, and about six boys, and as many girls, read six or eight verses each; after which, they pause again, till it is judged a suitable time for the children to withdraw; which they do, not in couples as on other occasions, but singly, going immediately to bed, and at such a distance from each other, as to admit of no conversation by the way; the teachers passing with them in certain divisions, preserve the quietude without interruption. They generally rise at six in summer, and seven in winter.

It is a rule that every child, on admittance, shall have a certificate signed by a medical person, expressive of his or her being in health, and having no infectious disorders, or apparent sores; and if a child has not had the small-pox, the parent or guardian signifies, whether, if the contagion should break out in the family, they choose inoculation. Whenever an illness of any kind appears, the subject is consigned to a steady matron in the station of a nurse, who has convenient apartments for the reception of such; and an apothecary in the neighbourhood has a salary for attending at stated perioud, whether he is wanted or not, and as much oftener as occasion requires; the drugs are kept in the house at the expense of the institution, and the nurse has the care of them.

N. B. The children's dress, if not so when they come, is modelled to a certain simplicity, which meets with the general approbation of the most consistent part of the society; and such apparel as is provided by the institution, is of a subtantial and rather coarse texture, but neat in its colour and make, and a care is exercised over it, which preserves it to the last. An exact uniform in colour, &c. has not been adopted.

SECT. V.

The house-keeper has the general care and command of the kitchn, the keeping, giving out, and providing, the house linen; she gives an account what victuals and stores are wanted, sees to the proper use of them, and delivers an account to the treasurer, of her disbursements once a month.

There are two chamber-maids, whose business it is to make the boys and family's beds, to sweep their lodging rooms and the stairs every day, except meeting days, to assist in getting up linen, mending sheets, the boys shirts and stockings, and also to help in washing and combing the boys. The nurse likewise assists in mending linen, but nothing is to interfere with her service to diseased children.

Two cooks are found sufficient; they contrive their business so as to have little hurry at meal times, and on the evening preceding meeting days, the victuals are so prepared for next day, that little more is necessary; having in summer, cold meat, or fruit-pies, and in winter, boiled plumb-puddings, which only require one person to stay at home, to keep the coppers boiling.

They have one servant whose business is principally washing dishes, &c. A steady, and rather elderly man, is generally kept for renewing the fires, and jobbing about. There is one dairy-maid, who has the care of the milk of upwards of twenty cows, assists in milking them, and makes the butter, &c. The laundress's work is only to inspect and assist in the washings. A mill, something like the bleachers, is used for large clothes; it is in a building detatched from the house, and is wrought by a horse; the linen is washed in bags, being first sorted and soaped; two washer-women are provided for one day, who, with a man that is kept in the capacity of a carpenter, can, with industry, accomplish all that is suitable for that engine. These washings come every week. One man has the care of baking and brewing, in which is included the children's dinners, when thay have baked meat or pies, and making the bread, &c.

There are 80 acres of land*, and two men in the capacity of farmers, who, with a labourer occasionally, find sufficient employ in raising a little grain, taking care of the cattle, assisting in milking, going to market about the distance of three miles, and fetching coals from the pits a few miles.

[* Since the above was written, the quantity of land is increased.]

The treasurer, his wife, the house-keeper with al the masters (except those who have familites), mistresses, nurse, and mantua-maker, eat together at the house-keeper's table; and the other servants sit down regularly together in the kitchen, where order and solidity are made incumbent for every servant to observe.

A taylor and shoe-maker, who have families, are stationed in cottages adjoining the house, and have salaries sufficient for their support. Single men lodge and board in the house, being found necessary to sleep in the boys rooms. The family is supplied with vegetables from a large garden on the premises, and the care of it committed to a man in the station of gardner, and his assistants.

N. B. Admitting into the family such as are not in profession with friends, is guarded against.

SECT. VI.

Inconveniences have been found by recommending persons with too partial an eye to their private interest, and obtaining for them a comfortable asylum; so that some who were not objectionable in their own spheres, and within the compass of their own abilities, have onstructed the right order of the institution, and have necessarily become objects of disapprobation; being defective in those faculites which were peculiarly requisite for the stations to which they were introduced: whereas some others, from a secret apprehension of duty, and an upright desire for the good of the intitution, have, under discouragements, and much diffidence, before their qualifications were ripened for publick view, been put into offices; and yet these have, in due time, been wonderfully opened in religious and civil usefulness, and have become as pillars in the supprot of right government in the family.

It has been found expedient, from which great advantages have arisen to the family, that friends who travel in Truth's service, and those that come disinterestedly on the business of the institution, should be freely accommodated in the house; any expense occasioned thereby, being more than compensated by their religious concern and endeavours for the presperity of the whole household. Nevertheless, inconveniences and unneccessary expence have evidently arisen by the children's connexions, and those who only come from curiosity, having free access to the accommodations provided by the institution; and therefore an inn has been opened in the neighbourhood,* where people may be agreeably entertained, and enjoy, as if they were in the house, every privilege of seeing the children, observing the order of the family, and attending religious opportunities.

[* As the premises belong to the institution, the committee has some controul on the tenant.]

As a library of suitable books is provided by the institution for the children's use; and as others of a very different tendency have unwisely been sent by their connexions; it has been found expedient to forbid the introduction of any publications but what first undergo the teachers' inspection.

Divers advantages have arisen by the school's not being limited to the children of friends in straitened circumstances; as those who had their outward affairs in good order, might be expected so to have extended their care to their offspring, as that their example, amongst the more ignorant and less guarded youth, might promote solidity and good order in the family: and in cases where that care had not been sufficiently extended, the good of such children, not less than others, appears to be the object of the society's concern: and as their parents were not prevented from contributing to the support of the institution, so as amply to allow for the additional expense above the stated sum, and even to exceed it if they thought proper, no reasonable objection could arise on that account.

By this means the house was more easily supported, and that distinction in the spirit of the world, which is the bane of religious society, was in some degree removed. Thus children intended to fill different stations in life, being set upon an equality, with which nothing interfered but their merit or demerit, has proved a great encouragement to friends in low circumstances to send their offspring, when they found there was no design publickly to mark them as objects of charity; which no doubt, from diffidence in some, and an unwillingness to be denominated poor in others, would have been generally so disagreeable, as that the number of three hundred children could scarcely have been found, whose parents would have submitted to receive a national benefit, if thereto the badge of poverty had been affixed.

As the poor in civil, much more in religious society, are entitled to necessary and comfortable accommodations, and those who are in easy circumstances, upon the principle of loving our neighbours as ourselves, have not a right to more; such an education as is suited to the one, may not be inconsistent with the other, if instead of training them for children of this world, the cultivation of their minds, as followers of Christ, be the principal object in view.

A friend may, for procuring the necessaries of life, be in easy circumstances, support an honourable appearance amongst men, and a generous hospitality towards his friends, being of those who rather desire to give than receive; and yet, if out of a large family, he wish to send three or four to school, and think it his duty to provide the most guarded education, it may be quite inconsistent with his abilities, and the education he wishes them to have, to place them in a more expensive situation than what, upon an average, they cost the institution at Ackworth. To prevent such a friend from the benefit of so generous a design, is incompatible with the avowed concern of the society for the welfare of its youth.

Our judgement of one another's circumstances in life is often erroneous, and it hath sorrowfully appearted, that many have been strangers to their own; and some who might be unkindly judged for sending their children to Ackworth school, because of the appearance of affluence, which they unwisely supported for a time, have proved unable even to bear the expense of keeping them here without the assistance of their friends.

There have been objections, in the minds of some friends, to an open door for all children whose parents approved the plan of education, from a supposition that the house would be crowded with such as might otherwise be well provided for, and that the poor would be excluded the benefit and preference they ought to receive from such an institution; and also, that the annual subscriptions expected from all the monthly meetings in the nation, would be too much appropriated to the use of those who might afford to pay for their children elsewhere; from whence, discouragements being thrown out to friends in easy circumstances sending their children, the school has much fewer candidates, and the design of it not so fully answered. These objections would be removed, if friends were more liberal and unconfined in their views, as to numbers or stations in life, and were so far from excluding, either the rich or the poor, as to be concerned for, and feel after, the propriety of extending their accommodations, and diffusing their endeavours for the admission of all who offered; and by opening a door for those of ability to pay sufficiently for their children, they might also provide a means for the relief of such as require the help of others in bearing their burdens, remebering that, "The liveral deviseth liberal things, and by liberal things shall they stand."

Upon the whole, it is evident that all children ought to be considered as proper objects of such an institution; for, in general, even the situation of the rich, as to their prosperity in the Truth, is as much to be compassionated as the poor; being often educated with ideas and impressions more regugnant to gospel simplicity, and less inured to the self-denial of a Christian, than the offspring of some who labour under difficulties in temporal things. When parents are wise enough to feel disposed to place their children in a situation, so favourable for the growth of virtue, and so opposing the ambitious views, and presumptuous endeavours after self-exaltation, it would be greatly to be lameneted, if such were excluded from a seminary, which under the peculiar care of the society, is better inspected, regulated, and furnished with religious officers, than private schools can often experience. And as, by this institution, a religious education and improvement in useful knowledge is offered to the acceptance of friends for their children, upon moderate terms, and a place large enough for the present prepared, there is no doubt but that by an indiscriminate mixture of children belonging to our society, divers advandtages to their future steppings in life may arise.

There is in one Quarterly meeting, a fund for the assistance of those, whose parents and monthly meetings may be unequal to bear the expenses of their children's education, &c. This fund has been extensively beneficial; the interest is appropriated to pay one half the eight guineas for each object; and the rest left to be raised either by the children's connexions, or their monthly meetings.