John Woolman on Schools

I was pleased recently to reread John Woolman for the first time in fifty years. He was still there, deep in my mind, as vital as ever, despite the passing time.

What occasioned this rereading was a blog piece by David H. Albert at The Skylark Sings in which I find for the first time Woolman's essay, “On Schools.”

“On Schools” was first published in 1758 and is only six paragraphs long, You will find it in its entirety at the end of Albert's blog or along with the other interesting short essays included in Woolman's original book, “Considerations on pure wisdom, and human policy; on labour; on schools; and on the right use of the Lord's outward gifts,” at the Evans Early American Imprint Collection.

I have picked out two quotes from “On Schools” for your delight. The first is just perfect, and important, and yet so rarely said or appreciated:

To encourage children to do things with a view to get praise of men appears an obstruction to their being inwardly acquainted with the spirit of truth. For it is the work of the Holy Spirit to direct the mind to God; that in all our proceeding we may have a single eye to Him; may give alms in secret; fast in secret; and labor to keep clear of that disposition reproved by our Savior, "But all their works they do for to be seen of men." - Matthew XXIII. 5.

And then there is this - I imagine that anyone who has dropped off a child on the first day of the first grade knows all about this, bringing a child into this world:

It is a lovely sight to behold innocent children; and when they are sent to schools where their tender minds are in imminent danger of being led astray by tutors, who do not live a self-denying life, or by the conversation of such children as do not live in innocence, it is a case much to be lamented.