No system of license found
Recommendation and certificate of removal; their use
From none of the sources of information does it appear that there was any license system whatsoever. The recommendation of well-known Friends was the best pass a teacher could have, as was instanced by those sent over by John Fothergill. In addition to the personal recommendation, the certificate of removal from his home meeting was an assurance to Friends in other parts that an individual was “clear” of all entangling alliances and might be received into full membership. In no case where a teacher came to teach, from a distance, did he fail to take and produce a certificate on his arrival. These, of course, did not certify the things which modern licenses do, but they, in conjunction with the personal recommendation as to ability, seem to have answered the purpose.
The term of employment usually a year
No written contract found
The term for which a teacher was hired was in most cases a year for trial, which was renewed again at the year’s end, if satisfactory to both parties. Mention has been made of Benjamin Clift of Darby,[1001] Keith, Makin, Cadwalader, Willian, Proud, and many others. Some were taken for a trial of six months,[1002] and there were cases in which the board reserved the right to discharge the individual on three months’ notice.[1003] The board desired, and in some cases requested, that the employee should give six months’ notice before his resignation should take place. Such notice was customary in 1755.[1004] Two instances have come under the writer’s attention, in which a contract was made for three years. King (son of Joseph King) was employed in 1754 for the three years subsequent thereto at £40, £50 and £60 for the years respectively.[1005] Mr. King resigned regardless of the contract, after six months’ notice, because the school did not agree with his health or inclination.[1006] The other case was that of Keith who was to be employed for one year at £50 and for two years more at £120 each, if he should desire to stay.[1007] In neither of the two cases does there appear to have been any instrument in writing.
Teachers’ salaries; tabulated
The salaries and rates received by many of the teachers have been mentioned in several pages previous to this. For convenience for reference there is presented without discussion a table showing the pay received by various masters at the times their respective services were rendered.[1008] One case, neither so prosaic to us, nor so profitable to the master, defies tabulation, so it is given verbatim.
Pay of Friends’ masters similar to that of other private masters
The charge for poor children less