Showing your age.


When my great grandmother passed a couple weeks ago, my grandfather brought up an old journal of hers, which included a few loose leaf papers with scribbles and notes. On one of these papers, were the rules and regulations for school teachers during the year of 1915 (Nicole, you'll love this). Sorry to say it, but 1915, you're definitely showing your age. As far as I'm concerned, fashionistas and ice cream-aholics would have made a less than ideal school teachers. It goes without saying, I'm out. 


Rule #1: You will not marry during the term of your contract.
Rule #2: You are not to keep company with men.
Rule #3: You must be home between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless attending a school function.
*Rule #4: You may not loiter downtown in ice cream stores.
Rule #5: You many not travel beyond city limits unless you have the permission of the chairman of the board.
*Rule #6: You may not ride in a carriage or automobile with any man unless he is your father or brother.
Rule #7: You may not smoke cigarettes.
*Rule #8: You may not dress in bright colors.
*Rule #9: You may under no circumstances dye your hair.
Rule #10: You must wear at least two petticoats.
*Rule #11: Your dresses must not be any shorter than two inches above the ankle.
Rule #12: To keep the school room neat and clean, you must: sweep the floor at least once daily, scrub the floor at least once a week with hot, soapy water, clean the blackboards at least once a day, start the fire at 7 a.m. so the room will be warm by 8 a.m.


Yikes.


*A few of my favorites.
Photo cred: Flickr

3 comments:

  1. Whoa! How did your great grandmother ever get married? These rules make it seem like you might never have happened!!

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  2. Crazy right? You'll be surprised to know that she had three husbands, not all at once of course. The ice cream shop rule absolutely kills me!

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  3. hahah that's crazy! in old town sandiego theres an old school house with all the teacher rules! its so funny. i never would have been a teacher back then!

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