1880 Teacher Rules and Regulations

These rules and regulations for teachers were included in the school register for 1880:

1. Any person employed to teach a public school in this district is expected to be in his or her schoolroom at least fifteen minutes before the time for the morning session to begin, and at least five minutes before the time for the afternoon session.

2. If no janitor be employed to take care of the school-room, it shall be the duty of the teacher to see that the fire, if any, is in a safe condition, that the windows are properly closed, and the outside door locked at the close of each day.

3. The Teacher shall notify the President of the District Board when, any article for sweeping or cleaning the school-room is needed, or when necessary to employ a person to make the fires.

4. If any pupil be absent or tardy twice in one week, the teacher shall send a written notice of the same to the parent or guardian at the close of the school-week.

b. If any pupil be guilty of disobedience to teacher, or of bad conduct at school, the same may be reported to the President of the School Board, at the discretion of the teacher.

6. No pupil shall be admitted to the school if known to be affected with a contagious or infectious disease, or to come from a family where such a disease prevails.

7. If any pupil shall come to the school-room with offensive uncleanliness of person or of clothes, he or she shall be sent home to be properly prepared for school.

Early women teachers were given these additional qualifications:

1.   Not to get married. This contract becomes null and void immediately if the teacher marries.

2.   Not to have company with men.

3.   To be home between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless in attendance at a school function.

4.   Not to loiter downtown in ice cream stores.

5.   Not to leave town at any time without the permission of the chairman of the trustees.

6.   Not to smoke cigarettes. This contract becomes null and void immediately if the teacher is found smoking.

7.   Not to drink beer, wine or whiskey. This contract becomes null and void if the teacher is found drinking beer, wine or whiskey.

8.   Not to ride in a carriage or automobile with any man except her brother or father.

9.   Not to dress in bright colors.

10. Not to dye her hair.

11.   To wear at least two petticoats.

12.   Not to wear dresses more than two inches above the ankles.

13.   To keep the school room clean:

  • To sweep the classroom floor at least once daily.
  • To scrub the classroom floor at least once weekly with soap and hot water.
  • To clean the blackboard at least once daily.
  • To start the fire at 7 a.m. so that the room will be warm at 8:00 a.m. when the children arrive.

14.   Not to wear face powder, mascara or to paint the lips.

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(Extracted from the book Cross Roads School, Bob Jackson, published in 1984, available at the Williamson County Historical Society Book Store)