(B) Palatine School Ordinance from 1556
School Ordinance establishing how these shall be organized in the electoral and other territories of the most illustrious, noble Count and Lord Ottheinrich, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Arch-Steward and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Duke of Upper and Lower Bavaria, etc. (1556) (6).
Concerning the Latin Schools
It is well known to many right thinking, rational people that schools are not only profitable for the teaching of good and useful arts, but are also useful for and indispensable to the filling of official positions in churches, in governments, and in households.
And although the elementary studies that are taught to young children in school may be despised as vain child’s play, no one can master the good, necessary, and useful higher arts without these elementary studies. And if a foundation is not laid properly, no stable structure can ever be built upon it. Therefore, necessity demands that elementary schools be supplied with honorable, learned, God-fearing, and diligent schoolmasters. As a result, whenever a schoolmaster is appointed or offers his services, he shall first give an account of his character and way of life. Then he shall be examined by those responsible for hiring him to determine whether he is competent to hold this office and, in particular, whether he is a good Latin grammarian.
Once he is recognized as competent to run the school, the following articles shall be put before him:
1. That he shall diligently establish and run the school entrusted to him in accordance with the school ordinance ([a copy of] which shall be given to him or lent so that he can make his own copy).
II. If the pupils’ circumstances demand any alterations to be made [to the curriculum], he shall not make them without first consulting the local superintendent and in doing so, he shall only consider and take into account what is beneficial for the pupils and conducive to the advancement of learning.
III. That he speak to the older pupils in Latin, and that he accustom them to speaking in Latin as well.
IIII. That he set a good example for the pupils by living a disciplined, honorable, and sober life.
V. That he not discipline those pupils who deserve to be punished for their laziness or wrongdoing with angry tirades, but appropriately with admonition or the switch.
VI. That he not sing any song or psalm in church other than those approved by the superintendent or pastor.
VII. That he take an oath affirming his obedience to the illustrious, etc., Lord Ottheinrich, Count Palatine, etc., as a loyal subject and [promise] to do all that he can to promote the welfare of his Electoral Grace and of the Palatinate and to ward off or prevent any harm from coming to them to the best of his ability.
VIII. And if during his time in office and residence a dispute arises between him and one or more of my most gracious Elector and Lord’s subjects or peasants, that he agree to receive justice or have it rendered, according to the decision of my most gracious Elector and Lord or of his Electoral Grace’s courts. (7)
(6) Numerous copies of this document survive, most appended to the Palatine Church Ordinance of 1556.
(7) Latin: justitiam facere et recipere.
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