Report of the committee
No school of Exeter Preparative
A school at Maiden Creek
School at Reading
School at Robeson
Most of the committee appointed two months ago to take into consideration and report the state of schools have given attention to the service; and divers of us have attended each of the preparative meetings belonging to this meeting and after a time of conference thereon, ’tis agreed to report, there is no school within the village of Exeter Preparative Meeting under the care of Friends; But we are of the mind that it is necessary that one be established there; and although work has been begun, yet we have but little expectation of its accomplishment in a short time;
That there is a ... school at Maiden Creek kept by Thomas Pearson, a Friend, who is at present engaged for a year, has 15 scholars entered for that time and 8 quarterly ditto scholars at the rate of 40/ per annum for each, which is under the direction of three overseers chosen by the employers. The school house built on a piece of ground belonging to a Friend which contains about five acres. There is likewise a school at Reading kept by Benjamin Parks and wife in their own house; they are members of the society and have about 50 scholars; such as spell at 7/6 and others at 10/ per quarter but is not under the direction of the meeting, nor are there any overseers chosen to superintend the same, yet we are of the mind a school established there under proper regulations and care of the monthly meeting, might be useful and deserves encouragement.
The schools within the verge of Robeson Monthly Meeting are kept by a person who inclines to go to our meetings, has about 20 scholars, amounting to about £34 per annum. Endeavors are also used to get a school established there upon a better plan and near the direction of the yearly meeting, but how far they may be successful is at present unknown. We do therefore recommend the whole to the notion of alleviation of the Monthly Meeting as a matter wherein friends are deeply interested.
Which we submit to the Meeting.
Amos Lee, Thomas Lightfoot, Samuel Hughes, Fannie Ambree, Owen Hughes, (which was approved by the Monthly Meeting, and decided that the substance be made a report to the Quarterly Meeting—The Committee to be continued to the service of Schools and report in the future).[339]