Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-04-03
Miss H. came back and taught the


tended her first school.
In those days we were taught to show
our respect for our elders, when we met
them, BY the boys removing their hats
and making low bow, and the girls
making courtesy. The spirit, at least,
of this manifestation Of respect would be
becoming in the present generation of
young people.
The compensation paid to female teach
ers, for many years, was from fifty cents
to one dollar per week, and the board
was about as much more. Male teach
ers received about ten dollars per month,
and one dollar per week was usually paid
for board. Sometimes the teacher
"boarded round," and the length Of the
term was thereby increased. Teachers
of those times had no advantages Of
Normal Schools, nor any special training
for their duties. The textbook used
had none of the "modern improvements"
We had no blackboard nor any apparatus
Of any kind, except that, occasionally,
an apple was used to illustrate the form
Of the earth and its revolutions. But
the teachers were earnestly devoted to
their work, and made the most Of their
meagre opportunities; the scholars APP
piled themselves to their tasks with an
earnestness rarely witnessed in our mod
ern schools and it is probable that their
progress was quite as rapid as it is in the
schools Of the present day.
In these old times, it was customary
for the teacher, at the opening Of the
term to promulgate a long code OF laws
for the government Of the school. These
laws were often found to be more en-
barrassing to the teacher than restraining
to the scholars, and the length of the code
was gradually reduced.
Among the first duties Of the teacher
in the winter school, was the making Of
a list Of the boys, who, in his judgment
were old enough to cut wood and make
the fires; and each one on the list took
his turn. We were fortunate if we had
plenty Of green wood in the log, eight
feet long. Sometimes we had not enough
of this, and were obliged TO forage for
our fuel, as many stump which ap-
peared in the vicinity Of the school house
when the snow melted in the spring,
from which the boys had removed the
tree, would testify. The idea Of cutting
and preparing the school wood in time to
have i, sea5oned and ready for use had
not occurred to any one in the district !;
and wood shed in connection with a
school house was not invented until
many years later.
Our Rotations were conducted quite
differently from the more modern prac-
tice. In grammar, we were required TO
commit to memory about the whole book
before attempting to constructa sentence
or give the relations of one word TO an
other. Then came the application OF all
the rules with which our heads had been
filled, with little, if any. knowledge OF
their meaning. ] have q vivid recollec.
ton of how we racked our brains in try
ing to parse" the sentence: "No man
may put off the law of God" or some
thing equally incomprehensible to the
beginner, which was usually given US as
the first lesson.
In spelling, the school was usually
divided into from four to six classes. Al
recitation, each class was formed in line
in front Of the seats, the head of thu
class being at or near the teachers desk
We spelled for our places in the class
Some teachers required each scholar wh'
stood at the head Of the class at the clos'
of the day to take the foot the next day
We struggled hard for the head, for tn
teacher usually kept a record. and
"leaye off at the head" of the class tn
most nights in the term was proud dis
-. tinction. But the great test Of prof
cheney in this art took place at gu
"spelling schools" These were hel
, in the evening, and, in addition to tn
scholars who attended the day schoo
, many of the best spoilers from the dis
tricts. round about, would te present
Two Of the scholars, generally boy an
a girl. were selected as leaders or "caI
, tains," and, taking convenient position
they chose by turns for their respecti'
sides until all were in order for the COT
test. Sometimes it was surmised th'
. the captains" chose scholars to sit
stand next to them for other reason
. than their proficiency in the art Of spell
:, ing; but, on the whole, excellent judl
), ment was shown in their selection
:. The teacher gave the words to be spelle
first to one side, then to the other, b
ginning with the captains. When Of