LANCASTER SCHOOL TO BEGIN.
Mr. Lancaster's celebrated mode of teaching the elements of the English language will go into operation in the Preparatory Department of the Raleigh Academy on Monday next.
—Raleigh Star, Friday, February 10, 1815.
LANCASTER SCHOOL FREE TO POOR CHILDREN.
The Trustees of the Raleigh Academy wish it to be generally known, that the new and highly approved Plan of teaching the first Rudiments of Learning, invented by the celebrated Joseph Lancaster of England, is now in operation in their Preparatory School. * * *
The great advantages attending this plan of Education are, that a Teacher can instruct any number of Children that his School Room will hold; Children are taught the Rudiments of Learning in a much shorter time than in the usual way (the youngest learning to read and write at the same time); it is much cheaper than the old mode, the price being $10 a year only, and no Books are required. * * *
The Trustees receive the Children of such Parents as cannot afford to pay for their Education free of expense. Such as wish to avail themselves of this advantage, will apply to Judge Potter, Wm. Shaw or J. Gales, who will give them the necessary introduction to the School. What renders this provision the more acceptable is, no one but the Trustee to whom the Parent applies and the Treasurer (not even the Teacher) knows which of the Scholars are paid for and which are taught gratis.
March 16. Wm. Hill, Sec'ry.
—Raleigh Register, March 11, 1815.
LANCASTER SCHOOL IN OPERATION.
* * * Between 70 and 80 pupils of the Lancastrian school were examined amongst whom the 8th and highest class was examined on writing on paper, Arithmetic, English Grammar and Geography. In which * * * were distinguished.
The trustees cannot pass over the Lancaster school without expressing their particular approbation of the manner in which it has been conducted during the short period it has been in operation.
Though this school has had an existence of a few months only, the trustees find that children, who before they entered it, did not know a letter in the book, can read, write, have some knowledge of figures, and can repeat by heart a number of moral verses. Some, indeed, have obtained a considerable knowledge of English Grammar & Geography * * *
—Raleigh Star, June 16, 1815.
(Source: North Carolina Schools and Academies, 1790-1840, By Charles L. Coon 1914)
