Carolyn McCall, the wife of Dr. Tom McCall, is a relative of John Alden, a personality of the American Revolution War period. Timothy (1771-1839) was a descendant of John Alden. The Timothy Alden Academy was founded for both boys and girls in Plymouth, New Hampshire. Timothy pioneered the "memoriter" method meaning that the student memorized the material he was supposed to be learning. The student who excelled in memorizing received a certificate.
The girls went to school during the summer because the boys had to work in the fields at that time. They went to school during the fall and winter while the girls canned the food for the coming winter. John Alden was seen as a young Pilgrim made well known by Longfellow in one of his poems. John was a graduate of Phillips Academy and of Harvard, and became a Congregational minister. He was greatly in teaching over and above preaching. In 1815 he founded Allegheny College at Meadville, Pennsylvania, and become its first president. A sample of a certificate of accomplishment for the students read:
"Margarit Frost Mead for her amiable behavior, at the academy, and for the progress, which she has made, in those branches to which she has attended, is entitled to the commendation of her friends and instructors."
Another certificate of Merit read:
"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth. This may certify, that _______ for good conduct, and close attention to studies, has merited the approbation of her instructor."
It's a different world now for our children in school. God was then honored but not today!
—Dr. Mal Couch (9/11)
