T)OMINES AND SCHOOL-TEACHERS 95

to amuse and to outrage the respectable burghers
of New Amsterdam. He was succeeded in order by
Jan Stevensen, Jan Cornelissen, William Verstius,
sometimes written Vestens, Johannes Morice de la
Montagne, Harmanus Van Hoboocken, and Evert
Pietersen. In addition to these there were two
teachers of a Latin school and several unofficial
instructors.

The duties of these early teachers were by no
means light, especially in proportion to their scanty
wage. We learn in one case that school began at
eight in the morning and lasted until eleven, when
there was a two-hour recess, after which it began
again at one and closed at four o'clock. It was the
duty of the teacher to instruct the children in the
catechism and common prayer. The teacher was
ordered to appear at the church on Wednesdays
with the children entrusted to his care, to examine
his scholars "in the presence of the Reverend
Ministers and Elders who may be present, what
they in the course of the week, do remember of
the Christian commands and catechism, and what
progress they have made; after which the children
shall be allowed a decent recreation."

Besides his duties as instructor, the official
schoolmaster was pledged "to promote religious