A new discovery of the old art of teaching schoole in four small treatises ... : shewing how children in their playing years may grammatically attain to a firm groundedness in and exercise of the Latine, Greek, and Hebrew tongues : written about twenty three yeares ago, for the benefit of the Rotherham School where it was first used, and after 14 years trial by diligent practise in London in many particulars enlarged, and now at last published for the general profit, especially of young schoole-masters / by Charles Hoole ...

CHAP. V.

Wherein children, for whom the Latine tongue is thought to be unnecessary, are to be em∣ployed after they can read English well.

IT is a fond conceit of many, that have either not attained, or by their

own negligence have utterly lost the use of the Latine Tongue, to think it alto∣gether unnecessary for such children to learn it, as are intended for Trades, or to be kept as drudges at home, or em∣ployed about husbandry. For first there are few children, but (in their playing-years, and before they can be capable of any serious employment in the meanest calling that is) may be so far grounded in the Latine, as to finde that little smattering they have of it, to be of sin∣gular use to them, both for the under∣standing of the English Authors (which abound now a dayes with borrowed words) and the holding discourse with a sort of men that delight to flant it in Latine.

Secondly, Besides I have heard it spoken to the great commendation of some Countries, where care is had for the well education of children, that eve∣ry Peasant (almost) is able to discourse with a stranger in the Latine tongue; and why may not we here in England obtain the like praise, if we did but as they, continue our children at the Latine Schoole, till they be well acquainted with that language, and thereby better fitted for any calling.

Thirdly, And I am sorry to adde, that the non-improvement of childrens time after they can read English any whit well, throweth open a gap to all loose kinde of behaviour; for being then (as it is too commonly to be seen, especially with the poorer sort) taken from the Schoole, and permitted to run wildeing up and down without any control, they adventure to commit all manner of lewdnesse, and so become a shame and dishonour to their Friends and Coun∣trey.

If these or the like reasons therefore might prevail to perswade them that have a prejudice against Latine, I would advise that all children might be put to the Grammar-Schoole, so soon as they can read English well; and suffered to continue at it, till some honest calling invite them thence; but if not, I would wish them rather to forbear it, then to become there an hinderance to others, whose work it is to learn that profitable Language. And that they may not squander away their time in idleness, it were good if they were put to a Writing-Schoole, where they might be, First helped to keep their English, by reading of a chapter (at least) once a day; and

second. taught to write a fair hand; and thirdly afterwards exercised in Arith∣matique, and such preparative Arts, as may make them compleatly fit to un∣dergoe any ordinary calling. And be∣ing thus trained up in a way of disci∣pline, they will afterwards prove more easily plyable to their Masters com∣mands.

Now, forasmuch as few Grammar-Schooles of note will admit children in∣to them, till they have learn't their Acci∣dents; the teaching of that book, also be∣cometh for the most part a work for a Pet∣ty-Schoole, where many that undertake to teach it, being altogether ignorant of the Latine Tongue, do sorrily performe that taske, and spend a great deal of time about it to little or no purpose. I would have that book, therefore by such let a∣lone, and left to the Grammar-School, as most sitting to be taught there onely, be∣cause it is intended as an introduction of Grammar, to guide children in a way of reading, writing, and speaking Latine, and the Teachers of the Gram∣mar-Art are most deeply concerned to make use of it for that end. And in stead of the Accidents, which they do neither understand nor profit by, they may be

benefitted in reading Orthodoxal Ca∣techismes and other Books, that may in∣struct them in the Duties of a Christian, such as are The Practise of Piety, The Pra∣ctise of Quietnesse, The whole duty of Man; and afterwards in other delightful books of English History; as, The History of Queen Elizabeth; or Poetry, as Herberts Poems, Quarl's Emblems; and by this means they will gain such a habit and delight in reading, as to make it their chief recreation, when liberty is afford∣ed them. And their acquaintance with good books will (by Gods blessing) be a means so to sweeten their (otherwise sowr) natures, that they may live com∣fortably towards themselves, and ami∣ably converse with other persons.

Yet if the Teacher of a Petty-Schoole have a pretty understanding of the La∣tine Tongue, he may the better adven∣ture to teach the Accidents, and proceed in so doing with far more ease and profit to himself and learner, if he observe a sure method of grounding his children in the Rudiments of Grammar, and pre∣paring them to speak and write familiar Latine, which I shall hereafter discover, having first set down somewhat how to remedy that defect in reading English,

with which the Grammar-Schooles are very much troubled, especially, where there is not a good Petty-Schoole to dis∣charge that work afore-hand. And be∣fore I proceed further, I will expresse my minde in the two next chapters touch∣ing the erecting of a Petty-Schoole, and how it may probably flourish by good Order and Discipline.