Is a Young Woman with Bobbed Hair a Suitable Teacher? July 12, 1926

No “Boyish Bobs” for “School Marms”. . . or so Seems the Sentiment of Methodists of the Shelby District in Meeting

Shelby delegates to the recent conference of the Shelby Methodist District held at Cherryville brought back disconcerting news to the curbstone cowboys and others who annually look forward to the coming of the new teachers.

There’ll be a few faculty members with boyish bobs and mannish garb over the Shelby district in the years to come—that is if the Methodists of the district see to the carrying out of their sentiments.

The Methodists, mind you, did not say it just that way in their meeting but it is so that the impression is received.

The view is taken from a resolution said to have been passed by the conference urging more cooperation between parents and the school boards in securing “more mature” teachers. The resolution continued, it is said, in asking that more courtesy be shown the teachers in that they have so much to do with the molding of the young life and should be properly welcomed, invited out and otherwise made to feel at home wherever they may be teaching.

But in the line suggesting “more mature teachers” can be seen somewhat the sentiment oft expressed by old-timers in not feeling any too friendly to “school marms” with “boyish bobs.”

In other words, the resolution may have as one of its aims the often attacked “flapper”—that unperturbed bit of humanity that makes America gasp with surprise, and even admiration, and goes on its way nonchalantly and apparently caring little what other folks think.

The doctors say modern styles are more healthful.

The men apparently are casting more admiring glances.

So, why should the sprightly mite with the boyish bob, rolled hose and artistic coloring worry about what the rest of the world says?

Yet, even flappers grow up—that is grow older, though they may not admit it—and eventually they leave school to be “school marms.”

The resolution apparently upholds a moral right in asking more mature teachers, but the flappers, old and young, will ask why they should dress more mature.

Being able to tell mothers from daughters now-a-days is a task—and if they are mature, why should they look mature?

The day of the old-time school marm, who swept the floors with her trailing dress, wore pince-nez spectacles and stuck her pencil in the winding knot of her hair, is gone forever, an informing flapper says. Modern school teachers are just as mature, but look different, if possible.

And on the other hand, there is a very commendable side to the suggestion. The real flapper would hardly make a perfect trainer for the youth of the Shelby district.

From the front page of The Cleveland Star, Shelby, N.C., Monday, July 12, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn97064509/1926-07-12/ed-1/seq-1/