The Harris Centennial
Harris --The past 100 Years
Old Harris School
Page 39-40
Photo caption: We are indebted to R. W. "Bishop" Robertson of Harris for the picture and booklet from which information for the story is taken. The all-wooden building occupied a site in what is now the Harris city park. It was located approximately where the shelter house stands today. The two-story school is typical of many of the small-town Iowa school houses at the turn of the century. Like many other locations, this one was replaced with a three-story brick structure in the north part of town. This, with remodeling and additions, is being used today by the Harris-Lake Park school system.
Old Harris School Had Rules And Regulations In Early
1900’s
With school bells less than a month away,
summoning the students to begin a new year of studies, rules and
regulations have been adopted and implementation is expected.
Such has always been the case in the public schools of Iowa. Some
rules of the early 1900’s seem old-fashioned and antiquated,
yet some have stood the test of time and are still applicable.
In a manual adopted September 5, 1911, by the public schools of
Harris, some specifics are set forth for principals, teachers,
students and janitors.
Regarding holidays, one rule states that Thanksgiving and the
Friday following Christmas, New Years and Memorial Day shall be
holidays, but pupils and teachers will be expected to assist in
properly observing the day set apart for Honored Heroes. No other
holidays shall be given.
Morning sessions began at 9 until 12 and resumed at 1:15 until
4:00.
Teachers shall give close attention to the ventilation and
temperature of their rooms, avoiding drafts. The temperature
should be from 68 to 73 degrees.
Teachers are expected to refrain from gossip or criticism of
their associates or superiors. A violation of this rule shall
make them liable to dismissal upon 10 days’ notice.
Pupils who live within 10 blocks of school shall not carry their
lunches to school except in stormy weather, when the limit shall
be seven blocks.
Pupils are forbidden to throw snowballs, stones or missiles of
any kind.
Pupils’ attention is called to section 3986 of the Iowa
code, which reads: “If any person willfully writes, makes
marks or draws characters on the walls or any other part of any
church, college, academy, school house, courthouse or any other
public building, he shall be punished by fine not exceeding one
hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail not more
than thirty days.”
Pupils after entering the building shall pass quietly to their
rooms without talking.
Pupils who can advance faster than their class may be promoted by
the Superintendent at any time.
The use of tobacco in any of its forms is forbidden. Any conduct
beneath the dignity of a lady or gentleman is strictly forbidden
and repeated violators will be suspended.
Janitors shall sweep each room and hall every evening and dust
with a cloth dampened with kerosene all furniture and woodwork
every morning before 8:30 a.m. They shall clean all chalk troughs
every evening before sweeping, and dust erasers and wash
blackboards every Saturday. They shall wind the clocks and keep
standard time. They shall not sweep the halls during the time
schools are in session.
Each janitor shall visit each room at the opening of school and
once every hour thereafter during the session and inspect the
thermometers.
Janitors shall not play with or talk to pupils in the halls.
All junior students will take English, geometry, physics,
bookkeeping, economics and have spelling twice each week with not
less than 40 words.
It is apparent that time and change have made some of
yesterday’s school rules subject for revision or deletion.
– by Sandy Green