Bells

=Bells: 1776-1860=

It was typical for students to play games and socialize outside the school in the morning. Unless the school had a bell tower, the teacher would stand at the door and ring a hand bell when it was time for school to commence in the morning or after a recess. Students had to be within earshot to hear the bell, or they risked punishment for tardiness. The boys would line up on one side and the girls on the other.

The classroom atmosphere was formal and students would stand by their desks for the opening exercises. After the Pledge of Allegience, there might be a Bible reading or a discussion of the moral lesson for the day. These lessons were called maxims and quotations from the Bible, literature, or Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac were used.

Poor Richard's Almanack 1. Education is the chief defense of nations 2. Lost time is never found 3. One lie needs seven to wait upon it 4. Silence is golden 5. Prefer old heads and young hands 6. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again 7. Despise school and remain a fool 8. One rotten apple spoils the whole barrel 9. Too many cooks make the soup too salty 10. Never be afraid to do good, but always fear evil 11. Once bit, twice shy 12. A friend in need is a friend indeed 13. A good name is far better than great riches 14. Speech is silver, silence golden 15. The repeated stroke will fell the mightiest oak 16. Empty wagons make the most noise 17. He is most powerful who governs himself 18. An honest endeavor is worth ten promises 19. Not I can’t, but I will 20. Little said is soonest mended