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Title
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Johann Andreas Hübner’s rules for conduct at the 1789 Bethlehem Boarding School for Girls
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Alternative Title
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Johann Andreas Huebner’s rules for conduct at the 1789 Bethlehem Boarding School for Girls
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Creator
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Hübner, Johann Andreas
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translator
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Ballard, Barbara
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Publisher
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Bethlehem Digital History Project
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Date
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1789
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Type
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Text
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Format
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image/jpeg
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Description
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Hübner transcription is presented as written, with underlined/crossed out text, original spelling and capitalization. Transcription by Barbara Ballard with annotations by James Talarico
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Place
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Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
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Language
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English
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Extent
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6 pages
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Rights Holder
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Moravian Archives, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
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translation of
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Page1:
Ever since the year 1788 the Children have had no proper rules or Statutes, since those, that were in possession of the school at the time, were only compos’d for a small number of children, I presume; that the greatest number of our scholars, have hitherto followed the advice of their Tutoresses, which must, & I hope allways is a rule with (them) you, but, to make as little Trouble to them your Tutoresses as possible, we have thought fit to lay down a plan by which all our scholars are in future desired to regulate their conduct.) In all Schools & Institutions similar to this, there are certain rules & rites drawn out, to which the scholars must conform, not only the rules of the School but likewise their behaviour to those that are [1] above them, & to their equals. If ever this school is to prove beneficial, our scholars must watch their own behaviour with more severity, & never be pleas’d with themselves, when they find they have transgress’d in one single thing that is against the Rules of the school, By that means, you would get so accustomed to good Order & behaviour, that you all would take delight in doing what is laudable & commendable. The Children never were [2] allow’d to speak [3] in [...]
1. “their Superiors” is written between lines above “those that are”
2. “are not” is written between lines above “never were”
3. “to talk” is written between lines above “to speak”
Page 2:
[...] Sleep Hall in the morning, when they rise (out of bed,) & it is to be hop’d those that have hitherto taken the liberty to say things that might be said when they come down stairs, will never do it again, it only breeds disturbance, & will never do where there is so many together, you will understand hereby that except [4] if you have
any thing to say of consequence, (the) you have allways liberty to speak to your Tutoresses. When the bell rings the first time, the Children are all to rise & wait in silence, till one of the Tutoresses living in their different rooms with them goes down stairs, then after combing & washing themselves in due Order, and the bell rings the second time, go in company of one of their Tutoresses down in the Dining room to breakfast, where a verse is sung & the text for that day is read, the children it is [5] hop’d all join in singing praising the Lord before & after their meals [6]. As we have no servants to wait upon the Children, & we deem it much better for young People to wait upon themselves, one in every room is daily appointed to sweep out the room & dust the things, she is therefore allways to do it alone, & others must not go down [...]
4. “except” is written between lines above “that”
5. “will” is added between lines above “it is”
6. “their meals” is written between lines before next sentence beginning “As we have”
Page 3:
[...] with her without permission from their Tutoresses after comeing from breakfast, every one goes to make their own bed, but never be in to great a [7] hurry & give your Tutoresses time to go with you, without you are in company with them, the noise is generally too great, when the bell rings at 8 o clock the scholars must all be prepar’d to go to their different schools in silence & with propriety without disputing places with one another, you would by such behaviours compell your Tutoresses to give you certain places & that would show a great weakness in you & want of good manners, the best method is, when you go into your schools, to sit down in silence, & implore a blessing from our Saviour & Grace to go thro your Studies with pleasure & perseverance, I hope it is needless to recomend to you all to sit strait in school & not to speak, without you are call’d upon when the bell rings for the children meeting, it would be highly improper if the Children were to hurry in the Hall, & to be chuseing Places. In future, you are all to go in the following Order, on the first bench the Children (living with) that live in the Town with their Parents [...]
7. “a” is added above, between “great” and “hurry”
Page 4:
[...] The 2nd Sister Liesels & Marys Children, on the 3rd Sister Sulamiths on the
4th those that live With Sist. Lepering [8] (Langgaard & Throgitrup &) on the 5th those that live with Sist. Langgard & on the 6th those that live with Sist Kliest & Kunz. no Child is to miss the Childrens meeting without giving notice of it to one or both of their Tutoresses, it would be a great shame if there were Children amongst you that would not willingly devote ½ an hour in a day to praise & worship our Redeemer. When you come out of neeling, no Child is allow’d to speak, untill you get into your rooms it is highly improper, when you come (out of) from a place of Worship, to run, & speak so loud that you cannot even hear when you are spoken to, by one of the Tutoresses, When you go down in the dining room to diner there must be no talk at all, nor should you ever go, but in Company of your Tutoresses, at Table every thing should be treated with the greatest decorum if there is any thing wanting, never more than one should call at a Time, otherwise the table waiters are made confus’d, & it is impossible for them to help so many at a time.
It is likewise [...]
8. “Langgaard & Throgitrup &” is crossed out with “Lepering” written above
Page 5:
[...] very unsuitable for young misses at a boarding school to be murmuring about their victuals & treating the Gifts of God with disrespect, the Children (ought a) if you all behave as sensible Children will do you will try to eat every thing that is brought on the Table, if you canot, then let it stand, without grumbling. I will not hope that any of our Scholars go to their diner without taking their knifeve [9] & forks with them, much less that they lean with their elbows on the Table while they are eating, such behaviours would be intolerable rude, (the Children) from Diner till 1 o clock there is an hour for Amusement & recreation, likewise for preparing your work for the schools in the Afternoon, those things you want from your Trunks would be the right time to get as the Garret is lock’d after 1 o clock you are then
all to attend punctually to your afternoon[10] Schools, and (pay the same +) not run in & out of the [11] rooms at random, after 4 o clock the Tutoresses allways will do you the satis-faction to walk out with you, but there one [12] is thing to observe in your walks, I have hitherto very much disapprov’d of your running out of the house, there [...]
9. “e” in “knife” is crossed out with “ve” added above
10. “afternoon” is added above between “your” and “Schools”
11. “the” is added above between “of” and “rooms”
12. “one” is added above between “there” and “is”
Page 6:
[...] is some amongst you, that even will not stop to look if there Tutoress is comeing after them or not, dear Children I would wish & hope hereafter not to see you go out a walking in such a maner never run, nor talk so loud, till you get out of sight of the houses, it has a disrespectful appea-rance to any person, that looks after you. at Supper the same rules are to be observ’d as at all the other meals, I hope all [13] our Children all punctually attend their evening Prayers, & when they go to bed, never allow themselves to talk nor be loud.
Behaviour to their Tutoresses
to their equals
to such as enter school
not immitate bad things they have seen or
heard at home
13. “all” is written above “hope” and “our”
