SUPERINTENDENT'S CHAT

Richard J. McClements, Shonto Preparatory School

 

Recently, I came across a publication entitled, "Rules for Teachers - 1872."  I thought you might enjoy seeing these guidelines:

 

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 your 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 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.      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.         

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.    

 

The first generally accepted public school system began in Buffalo, New York in 1832.  It makes one wonder what changes, if any, had taken place in teacher working conditions during that 40 year span in which the above listed guidelines were written.