西元1923的時候,美國還是個非常保守的國家。當時的美國社會對婦女在外面工作仍然不是非常的能接受。大部分的女人都是早早結婚然後在家相夫教子。當時,女人能從事的行業不多,老師跟護士是兩個以女性為主的行業(其實到今天還是一樣)。有一天我在我們系上教授的門上看到了一張1923年某Wisconsin州小學的老師聘書(合約)。當時的老師一個月的薪水是美金75元,約折合今天的新台幣2700元。所有的老師並且要遵守以下的規定:
- Teacher is not to get married. This contract becomes null and void if teacher marries. 老師不可以結婚,若是結婚則本合約視同無效。
- Teacher is not to keep the company of men. 老師不可以交男朋友或是有任何的男伴。
- Teacher must be home between the hours of 8 P.M. and 6 A.M. unless in attendance at a school function. 晚上八點到早上六點之間,老師必須要待在家裡,除非有特別的學校活動。
- Teacher may not loiter downtown in ice cream parlors. 老師不可以在鎮上的冰果室裡閒晃。
- Teacher may not leave town at any time without permission of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees. 老師不可以在未經學校的董事會主席允許下出城到別的地方去。
- Teacher is not to smoke cigarettes or drink wine, beer or whiskey. 老師不可以抽煙,也不可以喝任何含酒精的飲料。
- Teacher may not ride in a carriage with any man except her brother or father. 老師不可與任何的男性同乘一部車,除非那個男性是老師本人的父親或是兄弟。
- Teacher is not to dress in bright colors. 老師不可穿顏色鮮豔的衣服。
- Teacher may not dye her hair. 老師不可以染頭髮。
- Teacher will not wear dresses more than two inches above the ankle. 老師所穿的裙子裙角最短只能到腳踝以上兩英吋。
- Teacher is to wear at least two petticoats. 老師必須要穿至少兩件襯裙。
- Teacher is to bring a bucket to school to clean and scrub the building every week. 老師每週必須帶水桶到學校刷洗教室以及學校建築。
呵呵!怎麼樣,有沒有人還想要當老師的呀?