Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-16
FIRST FREE SCHOOL.
That Established BY Joseph LsncaS'
Ter Vas The Pioneer In Richmond.
MADE FIGURES IN TIE SAND
One Teacher, with the Ala OF
tors, Instructed n Large
of PupiIs-IIow Disc'p''"'
maintained.

!" 100 10 an humble life. Joseph
were p'o''e .,.,,e1 ana advocated the
,ysiem OF national educa,'on ~, Cor
- pr Bcn lie opened " S.NOV -"
49, children ia ST. George > Us
.-.,, Income known as n p"l'ih''N
ana 5000. enthusiast IA the cause
,...o lie died in New YORK.
.,..,, clrcun iances. In 1893.
d" r.~,as,er's visit 70 Richmond,
7.f 10 the establishment oil
w., r.reasteran School. was pro-
.,y not long before his death. Ac-
'.-..,. % my recollection, fund was
....,.l by benevolent persons
,..t. With an appropriation from
.., and ehare contributed by the
...-.r. oind Of the State, founded and
....n.i the school. y was the only
a., school in the city. and there were
b., I'D. schools in the State, except IN
fr as my teacher was authorized
t.t. .nl.rent pupils into his school
a. .ho expense OF tho literary func.
IDEA OF THE SYSTEM.
Tho Iancasterian system seems -
l.t. boon devised with view 10 lNe
Instruction of many children by re-"
+4rt.rs. aud with few books &c
teacher of large school was assisted
H. monitors, older scholars. iNe 70
sons for primary scholars IN sp.'i"s
cul reading were printed on large 9No
az paper. which were pasted on uo"'N9'
alI one Of these boards. Dr. mort az
co-l.ng TO grade. were hung an aiOuIlu
a., room. few feet 81 the HooI.
Arou, each board. ON sem-cH GUAR
heuci.s. vas gathered q class, 10 "H'CH
"a monitor pointed out the WORDS 10 ue
soau.d az read. Across tho room eN-
tended lo., desks for writing. a inoI'-
Tor at the head of one or more Oh
thes. desks called out WoIas' OF se"
fences to Dee written Inc hist c."'
wrote In sand the letters or the alphaDeN'
from large blackboard hung up IN
frout OF tb.m when a letter had been
made ia sand the monitor passed from
o.. end of the desk 20 the other ana
sncrfheI the sand with a small block
for another letter The sand was, or
course. go confined that II could not
la pushed or by the block. Tho olher
classes wrote on states. The dliilculty
Of p curing good monitors was one cause
a. the gradual disuse of this system
nm. us books and teachers multiplied
30 became Jess .cessary as an economical
arrangements 40 peculiar features were
thus. O.. degrees, abolished Ia tho ken
iu.nl school. as elsewhere.
FATHER COURTNEY'S METHODS.
1fr Harwood was principal OF tic
school 40 the time Of his death In the
early part Of 1s5l regret tnat l cannot
recall the first name II this gentleman
Dc li.I iu the prime OF life, and was
rr,atv lamentod. lie was a leading
member Of the Methodist Church. and
li.Diy esteemed for his Christian charac-
ter Some of his family are probably
sim living I'm Richmond.
Rev Philip Courtney. who had been
principal of the school was AT the time Of
llr Harwood's death. assisting Mrs David
Burlington in the female department. In
The interval between the deoth Of Mr..
Harwo19 ana The induction # his sue
ceesor Mr. Courtney Taught the boys
Having been elected as principal Of
the school j visited Il one dav before
taking barge and witnessed Father
Copriney's methods. lie was greatly be-
loved boy the pupils who were wont at
the close Of fhe exercises 20 gather
around him in 'he most affectionate man
rer. Selling hts hands. and sometimes
flo tail Of his coat As a disciplinarian
3 had st his power, as ola men are
won't 90 DO. ] was much amused at the
demonstrations Of harmlo's wrath with
which be walked around the room. from
FORM ~ form. striking At obsireperous
Offenders rcht and left NTH some
sfnrt fragments Of switches. accompany
frr Dis aim with cXhortations suited TO
The character Of the delnquents As he
OIL. .eaI on the heads and shoulders tflt
be- bad struck al bobbed up; those Nho
hal been chasused laughing and look
iur ON tha scene al the next form; and
- tho fan and noise went on. There
we're between eighty and ninety present
On that day.
FOND OF PLAYING TRUANT.
ON taking the management OF the
s.a1c.. i found that. under che indulgent
administration of the good old man, the
f.l.t of playing truant for the whole
ty or hah day after recess greatly
Ifera ed ICY sending a notice on
pirate! form % pareI Is, through some
I.'ghhnrug scholar. In every case OF
r.t. tlis EVIL was soon corrected.
ieW weeks the number had gone
Un fl ahugt l30 Then the trustees au.ho-
me 20 employ an assistant.
ut Edward Peasants was appointed.
cur average for the two years ! taught
t.r. was about 10. as many as 175 being
fOu. TIMES present The advanced schOl-
ifs OBJ fae number Of about
iory had "a separate room assigned
them. and not a few OF them we're dill
sent students. and improved rapidly. We
the average 81 well behaved and neatly
dressed scholars. whose manners showed
careful training al home was probably
% large as ia some u the schools pat
iouZc1 by the higher classes. Many of
us pupils are now occupying places of
Usefulness and honor
in the female department there were
tAf or seventy scholars and the same
ion-rks apply 10 the girls as TO the
nj -.
Ierce.
There were good residences in the
building for the principal and for the
principal female teacher, and good sala-
.ies were paid them.
HAD TO USE THE ROD.
The trustees required ne to visit the
homes OF the pupils, especially IN cases
@. g. sence. 1 found the parents willing
% coop ate. and more apt 20 err on
TIC Side OF sevetty, as In the case when
man lcd his truant son TO school with
D.i.n. The rod was used when neces-
'| al school without offence 10 parents.
ie beginning i found il nee
20 establish my authority over
."- ni the most disObedlent by decisive
The question as 70 whether
80. rule them, or they me, soon
'tita'n boys. as l found, were In
'.'.t OF visiting the creek aud Vic
,,t pend during playtime from
49, r'. ,',y returned TO school or went
s-t ,,..'. .' mes with their clothes wet
l.Nt vt.',, hy threatening 10 whip the
n. tas. ~. ',.lea IN This way incurred |
NJ, whipping fourteen. all I'm a /
NV 1 ga H. ana dld il We'll ana go
~. ,n,' ,Ae Way tor the future '@
- - --s 70 The custom % v,isitsfio, |
nc homes Of pupils. + won,S ,e-oaon
e."' u Is especially to be COM eo,on as,msS
sna ', ecc o,,.ag mo interest OF parents
e. 80 ,lalss eAe,r sympathy ana regard |