Friends (Quakers) and Education
William Penn, an early Quaker leader whose grant of land from the king became Pennsylvania, was also much concerned about education. Typical of early Friends, he emphasized the need for education to be practical, preparing children for later life, and not about "vain arts and inventions of a luxurious world."
Schools Established by Early Friends
Early Friends moved to implement their ideas about education, despite many obstacles. In England, education was considered a function of the established church, and laws impeded the efforts of Quaker teachers and schools. English universities were closed to those outside of the Church of England until well into the 19th century. But Friends did not allow these obstacles to prevent them from establishing schools.
The educational efforts of early Friends were concentrated in elementary schools. By the end of the 17th century, they had founded a number of schools, which often meet in Friends meeting houses. Initially, these were primarily for Friends children. While Friends could not go to university, the first generation of Friends included people who had gone to university before becoming Friends. Some of these became excellent schoolmasters in Friends schools.
Friends and Popular Education
During the 18th century, many Friends schools came to be largely schools for the affluent. As a result, Friends moved to provide for the education of less affluent children. In 1779, Friends established a school in London with a small fixed fee for boys and girls 7-13 emphasizing reading, writing and arithmetic. They added geography and grammar early in the 19th century.
Joseph Lancaster (1778-1838), who joined Friends as an adult, was an important force in popular education. Lancaster was concerned for the education of the children of the poor. He began schools for this population, receiving many children of poor parents without fees. However, he was an impractical enthusiast. He wound up in debtor's prison, and Friends formed an organization to carry on the work that Lancaster started. This educational movement spread rapidly through England, and extended to Ireland and America.
In New York City, a group of Quaker women opened a public school for poor children of the unchurched in 1801. The City later took over these schools. In Philadelphia, a school on the Lancastrian model was established in 1809, which became a school for Negro children after nine years.
In England, later in the 19th century Friends developed the Adult School movement. Friends' concern for the popular classes was carried out in
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