28

"We have been well compensated in the gratitude expressed
by the boys and girls for whom we cared, to whom we gave
a good grammar school education, training in household and
farm industries and gently instilling into their young lives
a code of Christian morals and manners. "

While the Shakers always conformed to local education laws and some-

times also taught local children, with the Shaker teachers being partly paid

by the town, they did not feel a need for too great a development of intd lect.

They believed most people were "hand minded" and should be taught a trade.
*it*
While their leaders could be men of learning, they distrusted braininess.
Women usually taught the girls, and men the boys. The "Lancastrian system"

was used; that is, some teaching was done by older pupils.

Mother Ann Lee, although unschooled herself, "Vecognized the

necessity of training and developing intellectual faculties as well as the abili-

ties of the hands. Mother Lucy Wright, who succeeded her, felt strongly

the necessity of education and early instituted a system of schools." 17 The

first education formally given was in 1793 and consisted of 20 minutes at noon

for instruction in reading and spelling. While limited in the amount of time

allotted, this instruction was more than that given to many children in town.

A class was also held two evenings a week so the pupils could be taught pen-

manship. By 1805, girls were having instruction for one hour six evenings a

week. Many pupils got birch bark to write on as paper was too expensive.
By 1814, a regular teacher was designated, and evening classes were held

for everyone who wanted to learn reading, writing and arithmetic. In 1821,

16. Melcher, op, cit.
17. Elam, Sister Aida & Sister Miriam Wall. History of the Shakers:
Education and Recreation. Canterbury Shakers, Canterbury, N, Y. n. d.