Willie and Tad's education

[historybuff22]

I know that both Willie and Tad Lincoln had a tutor in the White house. While living in Springfield did the boys go to "public" or private school or were they home schooled?

Rick Brown
HistoryBuff.com
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[LincolnToddFan]

Hi Rick,

According to Ruth Painter Randall in "Lincoln's Boys" both Willie and Tad attended the private Miss Corcoran's School in Springfield. Tad was there only briefly. He was teased by the other students because of his speech impediment, and neither of his parents insisted that he return. The same thing happened at the White House. The Lincolns engaged a private tutor(Alexander Williamson) for the boys, but Tad soon decided he hated it. So only Willie, who was an excellent student, remained to be tutored by Williamson until his death in 1862.

[RJNorton]

(07-18-2014 01:03 AM)LincolnToddFan Wrote:  but Tad soon decided he hated it.

True indeed! Regarding Tad, John Hay wrote, "He had a very bad opinion of books and no opinion of discipline."

[LincolnMan]

Did RTL attend private school in Springfield also?

[Eva Elisabeth]

According to Jean Baker he attended "Springfield's best academy misnamed Illinois State University", nevertheless third-rate to Madame Mentelle's in Lexington which Mary attended. In 1859 he went to Phillips Exeter Academy after failing entrance exams at Harvard's.