Yesterday my fourth grader's class went to the Sam Houston Schoolhouse in Maryville.
Read the wikipedia article on Sam Houston.
I have several thoughts to share as a result of our visit to Tennessee's oldest schoolhouse. The first is a list of rules for teachers at the school. These rules are dated 1872 which is 60 years after Houston taught there. I'm not sure if the rules were different when he was teaching.
The second is a list of School House Rules. This list isn't dated, but I think it has some good, timeless advice.
Later I'll do another post on the history of the school and its importance in the community and Sam Houston's impact on the early years of Tennessee's statehood and how Tennessee's and Texas's histories are entwined in other ways in addition to having Sam Houston in common.
1872 RULES FOR TEACHERS
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 from each day's pay a goodly sum of his earings 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 barbershop 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.
SCHOOL HOUSE RULES
If it's Monday- be very patient.
If you get mad- count to 10.
If someone's new or lonely- be a friend.
If you forget your homework- be honest.
If you are late- be earlier next time.
If you don't understand- ask for help.
If your feelings are hurt- don't pout.
If you don't do well- keep trying.
If someone has less- share.
Treat others as you treat yourself.
If you talk out of turn- apologize.
When it's Friday- T.G.I.F. !!
3 comments:
I really like the 1872 rules. It puts things into perspective. How different it is now. Thanks for sharing it with us!
That 25 cent raise after five years is why I stayed in teaching as long as I did.....
I had to email this one to my wife (a teacher). Now I just hope I'm still allowed in the house when I get home.
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