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Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania Advertisement to the Reader It has long been regretted as a misfortune to the youth of this province that we have no academy, in which they might receive the accomplishments of a regular education. The follo~cing paper of hints to~cards forming a plan for that purpose, is so far approv'd by sorne publick-spirited gentlemen, to ~vhorn it has been privately communicated, that the!- have directed a number of copies to be made by the press, and properly distributed, in order to obtain the sentiments and advice of men of learning, understanding, and experience in these matters; and have determin'd to use their interest and best endeavours to have the scheme, when compleated, carried gradually into execution; in ~vhich they have reason to believe the!- shall have the hearty concurrence and assistance of many who are well-wishers to their country. Those TI-110incline to favour the design with their advice, either as to the parts of learning to be taught, the order of study, the method of teaching, the econorn!- of the school, or an!- other matter of importance to the success of the undertaking, are desired to colnrnunicate their sentiments as soon as may be, by letter directed to B. M-crnklilz, printer, in Philadelphia. Proposals, etc The good education of youth has been esteemed by vise rnen in all ages, as the surest foundation of the happiness both of private farnilies and of common-~cealths. Allnost all governments have therefore made it a principal object of their attention, to establish and endow with proper revenues, such seminaries of learning, as might supply the succeeding age wit11 rnen qualified to se1l.e the public ~vith honor to themselves, and to their country. Many of the first settlers of these provinces lvere Inen ~ c h ohad received a good education in Eli?-ope, and to their ~eisdom and good man- 166 Proposals Relating to the Education o f Youth agernent Tie olie rnuch o f our present prosperit!-. But their hands were full, and they could not d o all things. T h e present race are not thought to be generally o f equal ability: for though the rimer-ican youth are allo~i'dnot to want capacity, yet the best capacities require cultivation, it being truly~\-it11 them, as ~vith the best ground, ~vhich, unless well tilled and so~l-ed with profitable seed, produces only ranker weeds. That Tie ma!-obtain the advantages arising fi-ornan increase o f kno~iledge , and prevent as much as may be the mischievous consequences that ~vouldattend a general ignorance among us, the following Jzints are offeredto~iard forming a plan for the education o f the !-out11o f Ppnnsjlvcrnia , \iz. It is propos'd, That some persons o f leisure and public spirit, apply for a charter, by ~vhich they may be incorporated,~vith power to erect an academy for the education o f !-outh, to govern the same, provide masters, make rules, receive donations, p~~rchase lands, etc. and to add to their number, fi-om time to time such other persons as they shall judge suitable. That the rnernbers o f the corporation make it their pleasure, and in sorne degree their business, to visit the academy often, encourage and countenance the youth, countenance and assist the masters, and by all means in their polier advance the usefi~lrlessand reputation o f the design; that the!- look o n the students as in some sort their children, treat them with familiarity and affection, and when they have behav'd well, and gone through their studies, and are to enter the ~iorld, zealousl !- unite, and make all the interest that can be made to establish them, whether in business, offices, marriages, or an!- other thing for their advantage,preferabl!. to all other persons ~ihatsoever even o f equal merit. '2nd if Inen ma1-,and fi-equently do, catch such a taste for cultivating flo~iers, for planting, grafting, inoculating, and the like, as to despise all other arnuselnents for their sake, ~ih!ma !- not lie expect the!- should acquire a relish for that )now u.refzil culture o f young minds. Tlzolnpson ,r0js, 'Tzs101 to see the hunzcrn blossonls blozu, I/liJz~nznfant T P O S O I ~ powr opac~, a17d callr For tJz~ k ~ n d Jzond of072 ass~(1~01is fa??; D~lzgJz $11 tusk! To r~ c r rtlz~ t ~ n...

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