he, with others, entreated him to write a practical work on the subject.  ‘The Schoolmaster’ argues in favor of gentleness rather than force on the part of an instructor.  Then he commends his own method of teaching Latin by double translation, offers remarks on Latin prosody, and touches on other pedagogic themes.  Both this and the ‘Toxophilus’ show a pure, straightforward, easy style.  Contemporary testimony to its beauty may be found in an appendix to Mayor’s edition of ‘The School master’ (1863); though Dr. Johnson, in a memoir prefixed to Rennet’s collected edition of Ascham’s English works (1771), says that “he was scarcely known as an author in his own language till Mr. Upton published his ‘Schoolmaster’ in 1771.”  He has remained, however, the best known type of a great teacher in the popular memory; in part, perhaps, through his great pupil.

The best collected edition of his works, including his Latin letters, was published by Dr. Giles in 1864-5.  There is an authoritative edition of the ‘Schoolmaster’ in the Arber Series of old English reprints.  The best account of his system of education is in R.H.  Quick’s ’Essays on Educational Reformers’ (1868).

ON GENTLENESS IN EDUCATION

From ‘The Schoolmaster’

Yet some will say that children, of nature, love pastime, and mislike learning; because, in their kind, the one is easy and pleasant, the other hard and wearisome.  Which is an opinion not so true as some men ween.  For the matter lieth not so much in the disposition of them that be young, as in the order and manner of bringing up by them that be old; nor yet in the difference of learning and pastime.  For, beat a child if he dance not well, and cherish him though he learn not well, you shall have him unwilling to go to dance, and glad to go to his book; knock him always when he draweth his shaft ill, and favor him again though he fault at his book, you shall have him very loth to be in the field, and very willing to be in the school.  Yea, I say more, and not of myself, but by the judgment of those from whom few wise men will gladly dissent; that if ever the nature of man be given at any time, more than other, to receive goodness, it is in innocency of young years, before that experience of evil have taken root in him.  For the pure clean wit of a sweet young babe is like the newest wax, most able to receive the best and fairest printing; and like a new bright silver dish never occupied, to receive and keep clean any good thing that is put into it.

And thus, will in children, wisely wrought withal, may easily be won to be very well willing to learn.  And wit in children, by nature, namely memory, the only key and keeper of all learning, is readiest to receive and surest to keep any manner of thing that is learned in youth.  This, lewd and learned, by common experience, know to be most true.  For we remember nothing so well when we be old as those