Academies

Kim Tolley

Academies have a long history in the United States. “Twould give me great satisfaction to see a little flourishing academy in this place,” wrote the Reverend James Reed in 1766. As a result of Reed's advocacy, the Colonial Assembly introduced a bill to incorporate New Bern Academy in North Carolina. After the incorporation of Philadelphia's Franklin Academy in 1753, New Bern became the second community to receive a colonial charter. Academies serving students of both sexes predated the American Revolution. Commonly serving students between the ages of 8 and 18, academies were the dominant institution of higher schooling for both sexes during the 18th and 19th centuries. Some communities founded academies as educational alternatives to the forms of higher schooling provided by dominant cultural groups. Examples include the Catholic academies, the Chinese western military academies, and the academies founded by African Americans in Mississippi to provide literacy and racial uplift ...

Users without subscription are not able to see the full content on this title. Please, subscribe or login to access all content on this website.