K-12 Schools

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In his 1889 School History of Berks County in Pennsylvania  Morton L. Montgomery wrote about the early history of schools in Berks County:

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“The first settlers of the county appreciated the importance of education, and encouraged it as a means of promoting the general welfare. They were not slow in erecting churches wherever they had effected a considerable settlement ; and therein they caused their children to be taught the common branches of knowledge, such as spelling, reading, writing, and arithmetic, so as to enable them to conduct their daily affairs with success… In the first settlements, and until the passage of the common-school law of 1834, the education that prevailed throughout the length and breadth of the county was almost entirely in the German language, which was a natural consequence from the great predominance of German settlers over all other nationalities. In Exeter, Maiden-creek, and Robeson townships, the Friends were rather numerous ; they established English schools at an early period, and continued them for many years. The first German settlers brought along their teachers and ministers. These were so recognized before emigration. If there was no minister, the teacher officiated in both capacities. Some teachers even practiced their trades, such as tailoring or shoemaking, whilst teaching.”