One of my co-workers told me that back in the 40's teachers weren't alllowed to marry ?

Question

Why was this ?

This co-worker is in his 80's. He also said male teachers were unheard of.

Answer 1

All of the previous answers are correct! But did you know that through the 1970's teachers could not marry if they were in the same schools? They discouraged husbands and wives teams within a district and certainly didn't approve of them in the same school building. Relationships were kept secret. Also, I remember not telling anyone I was pregnant in the late 70's with my first and second child until I began to "SHOW"! The principals would harass you until you would eventually go on leave! Also, many districts would not grant maternity health benefits as only the husband had health insurance. It took us almost two years to pay the bill for our first child.

Answer 2

My mother-in-law was a teacher in the 20s and 30s. When she married, she had to stop teaching. She didn't go back to teaching until my husband was in the 3rd grade in the late 50s.
When she started teaching, she was required to attend church and not date anyone unless they were chaperoned. She also had to clean her classroom every day, coach girls intramural sports teams, and she had to teach proper manners. For this, she was paid $1200.00 a year. This was a very good salary for the time. She taught in a city school district.
I loved when she would talk about her teaching experiences and the requirements she had to meet.

Answer 3

Much earlier than that, actually. They considered a lady teacher would be too busy with her own home and family (or should be) to teach school. Most women were not allowed to work after marriage (by their husbands, and by society) before the 19-teens (1914-onward) and it was frowned upon by many even as late as the 50s.

Answer 4

That was definitely true in most areas. Most women went into "retirement" when they married to be a home maker and raise their kids. Things changed during the war when women entered the workforce to keep American companies working. They were expected to step down when the men returned from war. Times have truly changed!!

Answer 5

The school boards thought it was improper for pregnant women to teach in school. During that time women did not publicly have babies if they were not married.

In the 1940's my grandmother taught in a one-room country school, Kindergarten to 8th grade. It was necessary to hire a married women to teach there, no one else was around.

Answer 6

Check this website for rules for teachers in the 1800s

http://www.snopes.com/language/document/1872rule.asp

Answer 7

I think you're co-worker is pulling your leg.

Answer 8

they thought that a family would distract them from their job