School Days 1870's Traditional Cache
CheektowagaChick: Schools are now on virtual/hybrid schedules.
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NOTE: This cache was replaced on March 24, 2009 as the recent drainage/construction job removed the original hiding spot.
There might be a cacher or two out there that remembers one-room schoolhouses.
In the early days of our country one-room rural schoolhouses were built when the number of children in a particular area reached eight or more. A school house was built and district lines were drawn. The children came to school on foot or horseback and many times they had to travel for miles to reach the school. Many schools had facilities to shelter the horses. A teacher was hired by the parents or the "board" and he/she became responsible not only for the education of the children, but for the heating and cleaning of the building, and generally overseeing the upkeep of the schoolhouse. The main subjects were the Three R's: Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. In the one room, it was the responsibility of the older students to help the younger children. Lunches were generally carried in a tin lunch pail and usually consisted of leftovers from the previous meal. At lunchtime, children played games such as ball, Stealing Sticks, Bull Pen and Three Old Cats. Boys and girls usually did not play together.
In the middle of the 1900's as the population changed and transportation became more available, districts combined and children were bused to more central locations.
The following "Teachers' Rules" from Hernando County, Florida were generally the standard across the United States.
1872 Teachers Rules
-Teachers each day will fill lamps and clean chimneys.
-Each teacher will bring a bucket of water and scuttle of coal for the day’s sessions.
-Make your pens carefully. You may whittle nibs to the individual taste of pupils.
-Male teachers may take one evening each week for courting purposes; or, two evenings a week if they go to church regularly.
-After ten hours in school, the teachers may spend the remaining time reading the bible or other good books.
-Female teachers who marry or engage in unseemly conduct will be dismissed.
-Every teacher should set aside from each pay a goodly sum of their earnings for their benefit during their declining years so that they will not become a burden to society.
-Any teacher who smokes, uses liquor in any form, frequents pool halls, or gets shave in a barber shop will give good reason to suspect their worth, intention, integrity and honesty.
-The teacher who performs his labor faithfully and without fault for five years will be given an increase of twenty-five cents a week in their pay, providing the board of education approves.
1915 Female Teachers Rules
-You will not marry during the term of your contract.
-You are not to keep the company with men.
-You must be home between the hours of 8 PM and 6 AM unless attending a school function.
-You may not loiter downtown in ice cream stores.
-You may not travel beyond the city limits unless you have the permission of the chairman of the board.
-You may not ride in a carriage or automobile with any man unless he is your father or brother.
-You may not smoke cigarettes.
-You may not dress in bright colors.
-You may under no circumstances dye your hair.
-You must wear at least two petticoats.
-Your dresses must not be any shorter than two inches above the ankle.
-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 and start the fire at 7 AM so the room will warm by 8 AM.
Note to Geocachers: Just like in the 1870's you have to provide your own writing utensils. Therefore, please bring your own pen/pencil for signing the log.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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Treasures
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