The country school teacher

The first school in Iowa was in Lee County in 1830. In 1849, the first teacher’s institute was held and the first state normal school was opened.

However, anyone who knew a little about the subjects could teach and examinations were not required. Many had an eighth grade education and taught those only a little younger than themselves.

The Law of 1874 stated the county superintendent was required to hold a normal institute for the instruction of teachers and those desiring to teach. The $1 registration fee and $1 examination fee, plus the $50 from the state, offset the costs of the institute.

In the 1880s teacher certification requirements became mandatory.

Clarke County Normal Institute was held in 1898 in the high school building with 159 enrolled in the two week session in August following summer school. In the early 1900s, normal schools evolved into teacher’s colleges.

The compulsory education law passed in 1902, requiring children between the ages of seven and 14 to attend school. In 1905, teachers were paid $25 a month for a two or three month term of school.

Out of this allowance, they had to pay their board, clothing and transportation, perform janitor duties, attend summer or normal schools and find literature for the school.

Rules for teachers — 1872

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 daily session.

3. Make your pens carefully. You 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 10 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 pay a goodly sum of this 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 20 cents per week in his pay, providing the board of education approves.

1915

You must be home between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless attending a school function. You may not loiter downtown in any ice cream stores.

You may not travel beyond the city limits unless you have permission of the chairmen of the board.

You may not smoke cigarettes.

You may not under any circumstances dye your hair.

You may not dress in bright colors.

You may not ride in a carriage or automobile with any man unless he be your father or brother.

You must wear at least two petticoats.

Your dresses must not be any shorter than 2 inches above the ankles.