Rules for Teachers in 1872--A Whole New Meaning to Teacher Appreciation!
Dear Teachers,
For Teacher Appreciation Week, I thought I would share with you a document that one of my favorite English teachers gave me when I became a teacher. My, how times have changed!
RULES FOR TEACHERS--1872
- Teachers each day will fill lamps, clean chimneys.
- Each teacher will bring a bucket of water and a scuttle of coal for the day's session.
- Make your pens carefully. You may whittle nibs to the individual taste of the pupils.
- Men teachers may take one evening each week for courting purposes, or two evenings a week if they go to church regularly.
- After ten hours in school, the teachers may spend the remaining time reading the Bible or other good books.
- Women teachers who marry or engage in unseemly conduct will be dismissed.
- 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.
- Any 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.
- 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.
They had me at chimneys . . .
I hope that your students know how hard you work to make their lives better! From one teacher to another, keep the faith! Happy Teacher Week.
Much love and admiration to you,
Dr. Dr'
