William Mercer Green Papers Box 1 Folder Correspondence 1866-1867 Document 12

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S. Paul's School Concord N.H. May 1768

The right rev. W. M. Green D. D. Chancellor [to?]

My dear Sir,

Your letter to Mr. Covit came on Monday and I have since then been considering its contents as carefully as I could

Last edit almost 4 years ago by AAMatthews
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it best to adopt. I simply desire to explain why I feel unable to accept the offer with which I have been honoured and which deserves such serious consideration.

The Chief points are three in number:

1. The power of the Headmaster seems to me entirely too limited. The real Head of the School as well as the University would be the Vice Chancellor. My own experience and knowledge of such school leads me to think that while the Trustees shd regulate the general relation of the High School to the University the process of the Headmaster should be very great; that his decision in all cases of discipline should be final, while he should also, of course, be removable at any time by the Board which appoints him. This is the English plan as far as I can discover it.

2. The College or "hostel" system of boarding

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(as it is called in England) is indeed extremely advantageous or economical [???}. This system or one much similar prevails at Malborough in England - a school of the first class where the late Bp. of Calcutta was Headmaster (though to be sure they had fine buidlings always created)

For a collge or University this seems to me a most appropriate system, but for young boys at school I fear it is hazardous. Is there not danger that much of the influence one would hope to exert might be [???] by the boys' withdrawal during so many hours of the day and night from the school proper? Most parents too will admit that when the time comes for a boy to go to school it is rather better than otherwise that he should be away even from his own home.

Even according to your plan you do not quite avoid what you term the "barrack system" as [???] will have some 30 boys in a dormitory. But in truth that term hardly describes what we had in our

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minds. The boys here for example do sleep in dormitories (except some 8 or so) but these dormitories present the most cheerful, pleasing appearance. The partitions are of wood, thus securing entire privacy, and each alcove really looks like a little room and is comfortably fitted up. The floor is carpeted, and each boy has his pictures, books, bureau for his clothes [illegible] around him, and thus I think without the slightest discomfort that supervision so essential for young boys is easily secured.

I have mentioned these details at the risk of being tedious because I feared you thought the system of Wh McCort's[?] letter drew an outline had less of the home-influence about it than that which you have adopted. I am very sure it has far more in reality, however it may sound as described.

3. Knowing so well how much work the full curriculum of a large school of 5 or 6 Forms requires, I feel sure that it will tax the utmost

Last edit over 1 year ago by Linda2469
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energies of two mentors and a tutor to attend to 75 boys. It [illegible] be considerably more work than I am now attempting and I fear my health and strength might fail me. The work of all [___ts] connected with the beginning of a school is mechanicly very great.

These and other mothers unnecessary to trouble you with weigh with me is declining this offer on many accounts so extremely attractive to me.

His with sincere regret that I refuse this kind invitation to return to the South which I feel to be proper home. Nothing but my attachment to [__oit] and his nother cones have brought me so far nother after all that has happened. This school, havern, though in New England is I acquire to say [illegible] it. The whole time given to it by its head is a noter a [illegible] New England Puritanin both in Church and State.

As to the Southern University, the

Last edit almost 2 years ago by Nicole Mensah
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