Rules for Teachers in 1872

Having taught school, I am grateful for that these days were long behind us :) Some are terribly out-dated, but several still make good value sense today, over 140 years later. I purchased these several years ago (along with a slate pencil and slate board) while in St. Augustine touring the oldest wooden schoolhouse.

1. Teachers each day will fill lamps, clean chimneys. 

 

2. Each Teacher will bring a bucket of water and a scuttle of coal for the day's session.

 

3. Make you pens carefully. You may whittle nibs to the individual taste of the pupils.

 

4. Men Teachers may take one evening each week for courting purposes, or two evenings a week if they go to church regularly.

 

5. After ten hours in school, the teachers may spend the remaining time reading the Bible or other good books.

 

6. Women Teachers who marry or engage in unseemly conduct will be dismissed.

 

7. Every Teacher should lay aside from each pay a goodly sum of his earnings for his benefit during his declining years so that he will not become a burden on society.

 

8. Every Teacher who smokes, uses liquor in any form, frequents pool or public halls, or gets shaved in a barber shop will give good reason to suspect his worth, intention, integrity and honesty.

 

9. The Teacher who performs his labor faithfully and without fault for five years will be given an increase of twenty-five cents per week in his pay, providing the Board of Education approves.

 

I just find these so ludicrous - to think that women were treated like some possession while men were given freedom to pursue natural relationships.  

Next time - so why did women insist on school?