Rules for Teachers

Rules for Teachers

Brooke Teegarden

            The rules for teachers from 1915 and 1872 amuse me. They are quite different than our rules now. NEA’s principles are student focused. Their expectations for teachers have the student’s best interest first. For example, stating that a teacher “shall not unreasonably deny the student’s access to varying points of view”, is student focused. The old rules for teachers are based on society rules and are not necessarily student focused. For example, “you are not to keep company with men” is a society rule that does not affect the student.

            However, teachers still have society rules they need to follow. In the past rules, the teachers could not keep company with men because it would have been considered immoral. Today, although we can date and get married, if a teacher were to be known by the community as promiscuous, he or she would be setting an immoral example for the students. Parents and other staff would not want that person at their school.  There are other hidden social rules that relate to the old rules as well. Teachers should not be drunks, or hang out in sketchy areas. Teachers are expected to participate in their community in a positive manner.

            Some of the rules are similar. We don’t have to whittle nibs, bring coal, fill lamps or clean chimneys, but we do have to sweep, and if something spills on the floor, we better be scrubbing it.  And, of course, we teachers still may not loiter in those tainted ice cream shops.