School committee appointed
In 1777 those who had attended the Western Quarterly Meeting reported they had received the recommendations of the yearly meeting requiring the monthly meetings to have particular charge of the education of the children, with especial reference to the employment of schoolmasters who were Friends.[529] The same concern being mentioned a month later, with emphasis on the school education, a committee of six Friends was appointed to join with a committee of the quarterly meeting to confer on the matter.[530] In 1779, their action appears to be just a little more definite, but from the records it is difficult to say whether it meant very much or not; the minutes at that time stated:
John Way, John Marshall, James Bennett, Caleb Pierce, David Greame, Samuel Nichols, and Thomas Carlton, Jr., are appointed to unit together and endeavor to promote such schools as (are) recommended.[531]
Union school of Kennett, Bradford, and New Garden
From that date (1779) to 1781, there appears no comment on the subject, save the usual periodic announcements that the Advices of the Yearly Meeting “have been regularly received.” In 1781, however,
Caleb Pierce on behalf of the committee on schools, reports there is a school made up by some of the members of this, Bradford, and New Garden monthly meetings; John Parker and Caleb Pierce are appointed to join with the Friends of those meetings in the oversight thereof, and report to this meeting when necessary.[532]
The school discontinued
New committee has more specific duties
In the seventh month thereafter, in the same year, John Parker reported that the school which he and Caleb Pierce had been appointed to oversee was discontinued.[533] They were released from their service in the care of schools. The former committee on that subject, appointed in 1779, seems, however, from the minute of the tenth month, 1781, to have been continued as a standing committee on the subject.[534] The following extract implies that the committee of 1779 was replaced by another which, by the way, had more specifically named duties. The implication of the minute is that there were at least two schools, perhaps more.
The concern for the promotion of schools, under the directions of Friends revived, Samuel Harlan, John Way, Aaron Hollingsworth,—John Swain, Amos Harvey, Samuel Pennock, and James Jackson are appointed to have the care and oversight of schools, also promote the establishment of schools where there is yet want of assistance, and report to this meeting when necessary.[535]