Charter Schools (1700s? 1998?) and misc.

[Joel S. Berson]

These two of course are not the 20th century sense, but they antedate the
OED2's 1763:

Boston Weekly News Letter, 1736 Jul 1, page 1 col. 1:
  <i>Resolved,</i> That two <i>Charter Schools,</i> with all convenient
speed, be erected [in Ireland].

New England Weekly Journal, 1739 August 28, page 1 col. 1 [title]:
A Diary of the Charter-School at Castle-Caulfield, of their Work and Food,
from the 26th of March 1739, to the 27th of April following.

Since OED2 says the Irish schools were established in 1733, there may be
slightly earlier instances.

Joel

At 6/11/2005 04:25 PM, you wrote:
>...
>I'm in the process of adding to this. Surely, "charter school" has changed
>since the OED's definition. This is an important education buzzword that much
>immediately be revised.
>...
>CHARTER SCHOOLS--1,890,000 Google hits