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Miss Lottie the teacher; 1923


Shellon
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July 21, 1923

This contract is between Miss Lottie, a teacher, and the board of education of the school whereby Miss Lottie agrees to teaching the school for a period beginning September 1, 1923. The board of education agrees to pay the teacher, Miss Lottie, the sum of seventy-five ($75) dollars per month. Miss Lottie agrees:

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

2. Not to keep company with men.

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

4. Not to loiter downtown in ice cream parlors.

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

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

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

8. Not to ride in a carriage or automobile with any man except her brothers 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 ankle.

13. To keep the schoolroom clean, to sweep the classroom floor at least once daily, to scrub the classroom floor at least once a week with hot water and soap, to clean the blackboards at least once daily, to start the fire at 7 a.m. so the room will be warm at 8 a.m. when the children arrive, to carry out the ashes at least once daily.

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

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Shellon Fockler-North-

"July 21, 1923"

My grandmother [Orah] taught during 1910 - 1925'ish. Then one year the school's boys got out of control so my grand-father [Homer] took over the school house. The process of 'taking over the school' he marched in there with a switch and began whipping every child who was not quietly doing their school work. He scuffled with one boy and broke his arm. But once he established himself running the school, he was successful. [it upset my father to this day that Homer was never reprimanded by their community for breaking that boy’s arm]. I got the impression from Orah that getting a good whipping at school was the only thing that saved most children from getting a far more severe whipping at home [after running out their schoolmarm].

"... seventy-five ($75) dollars per month"

They told us, that some families did contribute money but that it was used to purchase supplies. Their primary 'revenue' from teaching was meat, beans, coffee, eggs, etc.

"1. Not to get married..."

Orah was teaching as a single spinster, though she got permission to court and marry so long as it all happened, while school was out over the summer [between planting and harvest].

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

Orah was required to attend church, and to be a member of a church. She could go out at night to church services and socials.

"4. Not to loiter downtown in ice cream parlors."

Of course, you don’t want no loose women.

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

LOL

Homer and his buddies made a little shine on the side sometimes. Orah had a recipe for making Kailua from the shine. Orah’s church ladies used the Kailua in their coffee. So they were not 'seen' drinking anything but coffee. She continued this into her 90s, and taught Bonnie to make Kailua.

"9. Not to dress in bright colors."

Vanity is an evil and not allowed in any church in those days.

"10. Not to dye her hair."

Same, got to watch out for vanity you know.

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

Lewd poets wrote about the exposed ankle of women and the vices luring therein.

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

Same.

You might get a kick out of the Homeschool curriculum that we have used with our children. Being a Mennonite curriculum, it pretty much expects the same level of sobriety and decency.

:-)

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