Hi All - I know it's been years since my last post but as the country has been in lock down over Covid-19 I've finally had some time to organize some of my collectibles and though it would be a good time to share images from a collection of 1920's teacher magazines I have in my collection.
Many parents are currently having to oversee their children's education from home while schools are closed due to the Corona Virus Pandemic of 2020. I remembered having purchased a group of antique teachers magazines; so I thought it would be fun to share some snippets from them in several blog posts. While flipping through the first issue I was reminded about many truths regarding our country and of the values we held as a county 100 years ago. Consider as you look at and read the articles from this magazine that the world was only a handful of years out of WWI and our constitution had just given women the right to vote two years earlier in 1920. We have overcome so many things through the years as women and as Americans and what we are experiencing with Covid-19 will also one day be another thing we have conquered.
I am a woman of faith and put my full trust in my Lord Jesus Christ.
Going forward I will be including scripture that's on my heart that day.
My focus going forward is to share vintage images and items you can enjoy and create with, as well as the spiritual things that are currently on my heart. My hope is you will find my pages enjoyable, entertaining and inspirational. If you don't appreciate the scriptural content, I won't apologize for it, you are free to brows elsewhere. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. - Joshua 24:15
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever
The world around us may change, our families, jobs, technology, the way we live and do things may change but I have comfort that the Word of God does not change and never will change. It is constant, a root and anchor to me. My faith in His Word keeps me strong and sees me through each and every day, it is a blessing and gives hope. I am thankful for it and want to share my thanks for it.
Now let's step back in time...
September 1922
Normal Instructor & Primary Plans
For Teachers of All the Grades and Rural Schools
20 cents a copy and $2.00 for a yearly subscription
I'm sure many a rural teacher found these magazines helpful with lesson plans and ideas.
My Great Grandmother was born in 1899 and was a rural school teacher before she married. She told me about driving a pony cart to and from school as a little girl, this magazine is most likely within a few years of when she taught school herself, so it really makes me smile to flip through it's pages.
Advertisements on the inside front cover of the magazine.
The only bit of color printing in the magazine was the front cover, inside front cover and the back cover. All the other pages are black and white.
I thought you might like to see the index page to get an idea of what each issue contained. As with most magazines it had a good portion of advertisements and there are many ideas for lessons, like history, mathematics, geography, music and more. This issue had 96 pages and it is a large magazine, similar in size to old LIFE magazines, I've adjusted the page size of my scans to be more in line with our standard 8 1/2 x 11. I won't be showing all the pages in this post, just some items I found interesting and then the fun pages, which I think you guys will enjoy best.
There are several pages that contain items like this one that can be cut out and used as a classroom poster. This was before the time of photocopiers and even mimeograph machines. Schoolteachers did not make a lot of money so the money they spent needed to go far. One of the advantages of subscribing to this publication was that it provided items that could be used to decorate the classroom.
Here is a smaller example they list as a coloring card that the students can use as a template to trace and color. I'm not sure how many friends would appreciate getting this quote as a "gift".
The sentiment is valid, We do associate time with money and no one likes to waste either.
I can see teaching children the importance of it, I just find it an odd quote for gifting purposes; however life was viewed differently in 1922 and maybe such a reminder was the norm.
Here is one example of a cutting border they include in their magazines. It has the look of a scarab beetle to me. Egyptian themes were popular at this time so that is a good possibility of choice here. This issue has 2 different cutting borders printed in this issue. Since I scanned the pages to be in line with standard paper sizes of 8 1/2 x 11; I wanted to include the cutting pattern at the correct size since the instructions give specific paper measurements for the pattern to work correctly.
Once again this cutting pattern is the actual size from the magazine so that it works correctly with the measurements and instructions listed. You can make the pattern whatever size you like just make sure you fold your paper accordion style within the dotted lines and you should get the desired result.
FYI - Saving and Printing
See my instructions in the sidebar for how to save and print images from my blog.
To get full size images you must click on the image so it opens in anther screen and then save from there if you try and right click and save directly from this screen you will be getting much smaller image size and resolution.
I'm a collector of antique paper dolls and toys. I originally purchased this page as a one page paper toy, and it's what introduced me to the Normal Instructor and Primary Plans Magazines. Years ago I came upon a lot of 17 magazines that in total cost less than I paid for this one page. I quickly purchased them and was thrilled to discover most issue contained a paper doll pattern and various other fun graphics.
Most of the magazines have a jointed paper doll pattern in them - I was thrilled to get these, since jointed paper dolls are one of the things I collect. You can print this doll, color her by hand, cut and assemble or you can get more creative. If you print it on various colors of cardstock you can cut past and layer.
For Example: Print one each of Tan, Brown, and Blue.
Cut all the parts from Tan (this is your base).
Brown - cut hair, cuff, collar, belt, shoes with bows.
Blue cut full dress with collar, arms with cuffs, but no hand and
only the back paw and rumpus of the cat, bows for shoes.
Layering the colors will give your doll a bit of dimension and added interest. You are working from underneath to top, so from skin up to cuffs, collar and bows on shoes.
You can use pattern paper or more than three colors. I just used that for an example.
Tip - When you cut, leave all the outlines showing for items that are the top most layer (hair, cuffs, collar, shoe bows... it gives a nice finishing effect. I use brads to join my doll parts but I've purchased antique paper dolls that were put together with button and string and in some cases knotted twine front and back. Get creative or just glue the parts in the pose you want her to stay in.
Also you can shade or color in for added interest, eye-shadow, bronzer and blush on q-tips, cotton balls work in a pinch. Expired powdered cosmetics make a good substitute for crafting pastel chalks.
This is the one I did to show you an example of the process.
I hope you and your little ones give this a try - it's quite fun.
Here is a larger view of the finished doll.
The cat is on the first Tan cardstock layer, she's been colored with eye-shadow.
I cut around the kitty a bit so I could tuck the blue sleeve and brown cuff layer under her a bit. That way the cat's hindquarters "sit" over the arm while the front part of the cat remains behind the girl's hand. It helps if you don't cut all the cat away when cutting the blue layer of that arm.
So here is a cute page to color and learn about skunks.
I know they are typically black and white but it would be fun to give them a new modern haircolor look. They could be a rainbow family for the grins and giggles of it.
Here is a large two page pattern to create a room poster.
A boy and his goat cart. This was a new one on me.
I knew about pony and donkey carts but not goat carts.
I found some vintage photos of children in goat carts on the internet - fascinating!
Looks like there were also sheep and dog carts too.
Here is a cute little drawing lesson.
I'm guessing most children today have not seen this style of kettle or alarm clock.
I thought it would be fun to post just a few lessons from the magazine that you guys might find interesting as well as a sampling of the advertisements.
This article on Beginning the Year Right seemed an appropriate place to start.
This September 1922 Issue would have been the beginning of a new school year; and with so many families now homeschooling their children due to Covid-19, this seems a good item to include here.
This page finishes the "Beginning the School Year" article and also includes a few advertisements.
I thought this article on the Constitution and a 1922 viewpoint might be of interest in this election year of 2020 - This is the first page and below is the conclusion.
This page finishes the constitution article and has a few advertisements as well.
I found this story, about a Pilgrim girl who was a bond servant on the Mayflower
interesting and hope you do too.
This page finishes the story of the Plymouth Girl.
I was curious to see what actually happened to Ellen and to see if we know more about her history now than the 1922 article stated. It's a sad story what happened to Ellen and her siblings. Sadly she did not survive the first winter and there is a book that's been written about the children's story.
You can read more at http://mayflowerhistory.com/more
Here is a great promotion from 1922 on keeping hands clean
Ad for Educator Shoes.
I own an antique pair of boots similar to these and what's most shocking is how very narrow they are through the foot and ankle.
One of the things I like best when looking through vintage magazines are checking out the fashions. What I find most interesting in these teacher magazines is the compromise between true fashion of the day and fashion for this profession. This was a time where a woman's reputation was her lively-hood and in no way could she be very flashy. A more conservative eye to fashion was required and in keeping with the schoolmarm look.
Schoolmarm: 1: a woman who is a schoolteacher especially in a rural or small-town school.
2: a person who exhibits characteristics attributed to schoolteachers
(such as strict adherence to arbitrary rules)
If a lady was too stylish she could be considered "fast" and a bad moral influence to the students and the community. Loss of reputation in this profession would cause a woman to quickly loose her posting and any hope of recommendation from her employer for another job as a teacher.
Teachers were not highly paid, so it must have been an interesting line to navigate; as to appear tidy and professional without looking dowdy or cheap. I'm sure many a young teacher wished to dress smartly without appearing flashy or loose.
This back page advertisement on the magazine shows a catalog offering fashions at reasonable prices. Considering there are 312 pages of fashion to choose from there was probably a wide variety of options to choose from. I'm guessing the closer to large cities a teacher taught in, she would be able to be more fashionable than would be acceptable in more rural settings.
I have several fashion magazines from this time period but it would be interesting to get a catalogue that was geared toward teachers like this one from Philipsborn's. I might browse around and see if I can purchase a vintage Philipsborne's to see what was on offer in it's pages. - grins
Now this gem is quite amusing. It's a story advertisement by Franklin Institute. The story is entertaining or it's own; and I'm sure it encouraged a bit of wishful thinking for the young ladies that read it. It also touches base about being fashionable without being dowdy, enticing the reader on educating herself regarding fashion design and millinery as well offering courses in such to advancement. I'm guessing it had a similar wish effect as moving pictures had on young girls wanting to go to Hollywood and become film stars.
It's a bit difficult to imagine what it was like 100 years ago to be a woman in need of respectable employment. Opportunities were limited and if you had no family or hope of marriage, life must have seemed very challenging, with little hope of improvement. I noticed several advertisements in this issue regarding learning to be a dressmaker or in becoming a typist.
Here is another story advertisement, this one by Woman's Institute, offering information on professional dressmaking, millinery, home dressmaking or cooking.
Here is an advertisement for insurance should you become ill and unable to work.
Teachers Casualty Underwriters T.C.U.
I'm sure this was something many young women on their own worried about and this full page advertisement sure would get your attention.
Here is a sampling of some quick read articles and advertising.
I was shocked to see the ad for the Sexology book but there were several other such listings mixed in on other advertisement pages. They must have found it worth their while to advertise here.
I remember once having a tin of Pepsodent tooth powder in the 1970s.
Here are more advertisements
Hair Removal seems to be big, since there is an ad for safety razor & kill the hair root here. Moving Pictures are also, since there are various ads through the magazine regarding the industry in one way or another. This was the 1920's after all, so along with the movies came the cosmetics boom; most of the beauty ads I saw were for hygienic products and skin tonics. My guess is teachers were not the ones buying up all the rouge and powder at this time. And finally here is one of many typewriter ads I found in the pages of this 1922 magazine for rural teachers.
I'll end this post with one final page.
The below page on poems caught my eye due to the first one listed.
"A Hundred Years from Now" - Seeing that I'm writing this post in 2020 and this magazine is from 1922 we are so in the 100 years ballpark. I'm pretty sure the writers and readers of this magazine could not image the lives we would be living or the technology our world has access to.
Think how far medical technology and treatments have come in that time yet as the pandemic of Spanish Flu was a recent memory to them; I'm sure they never imagined their ancestors would be fighting a similar epidemic nearly 100 years in the future. We need to give thanks for all we have in this modern age. We need to move forward in hope and with faith that we too will survive as they did.
Fear tolerated is Faith contaminated - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7). I know in whom I believe (2 Timothy 1:2) and that the Name of Jesus is above every other name (Philippians 2:10)
There is authority in the Name of Jesus, so I choose to walk in Faith and not in Fear.
I choose to stand and believe on His Word and to pray a prayer of thanksgiving for bringing us through, stronger and more resilient in every way - physically, spiritually and financially.
I can choose what the news reports, what the world says or I can choose what the Word says I am in Christ Jesus... I chose JESUS, I choose to believe what the Word says I can have and what the Word says about who I am in HIM! I confess these truths with my heart and with my mouth.
Let God be true, but every man a liar - Romans 3:4
By His stripes I was healed - 1 Peter 2:24
Jesus bore my infirmities and sicknesses - Matthew 8:17
No weapon formed against me shall prosper - Isaiah 54:17
Thanks be to God who gives us our Victory through Jesus Christ - 1 Cor 15:57
This poem A Hundred Years from Now was written by Mary A. Ford
I don't know the original year written but I do know it was included in a poetry book in 1890.
I'm not much for poems but the title alone puts much into perspective. If we consider our current words, thoughts and actions, stop - take a minute and wonder what results they will produce and then consider the long term effect... would we say, think or do those things?
As I'm writing this post the Lord has placed these words on my heart.
Truth - These earthly bodies we live in will one day die, very few will see 100 years.
Truth - No matter how much money you have, you can't take it with you.
Truth - Life is more than stuff we acquire.
We all have an eternal future beyond the here and now.
It does not matter if you believe it or not, that won't change the outcome.
There is Truth and there is Fact
Truth can change a Fact
but a Fact will never change a Truth.
There is but one Truth - seek the Truth and you will find Life
John 14:6 KJV
Jesus saith unto him,
I am the way,
the truth,
and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father,
but by me.
We all have free choice - God gave us that right.
He created us in his image, to have choice.
Choose Jesus and you choose Life.
Life come from God through Jesus - John 10:10
Death comes from Satan the thief who only comes to steal, kill and destroy - John 10:10
Truth comes from the Lord - Lies and deception from Satan
1 John 2:22-23
22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?
He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father:
he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
Proverb 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue:
and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
What you feed on (listen to, watch and read) is what your thoughts become consumed by.
First you think it, then you say it, then you do it. That tree bears that same fruit.
If your life is in a mess, start looking at what your thinking and saying.
Stinking thinking does not produce pleasant things and our words become self fulfilling prophesy.
You will say what is in abundance in your heart, your words reflect what you believe in your inner man.
Luke 6:45
A
good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that
which is good;
and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart
bringeth forth that which is evil:
for of the abundance of the heart his
mouth speaketh.
so Whatever your heart is full of is what your going to say.
If you have a heart full of goodness you speak accordingly, if not, you won't.
Listen to what your saying, what pops out your mouth under stress before you have a chance to censor yourself... that's really what's in your heart, deep down and it will see the light of day.
As a man thinks in his heart, so is he - Proverbs 23:7
How do you change that?
You have to change what your feeding on (listening, watching, reading)
Struggling with Faith?
Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Go to the source - get into the Word of God. It's an ongoing thing to have a relationship with the Lord and to build your faith. It comes by hearing, and hearing, and hearing.
It's not a one time "heard that", it's a continual progression of hearing His Word, thinking on it, meditating on it till its a part of you.
You don't go to the grocery store once in your life and
you're stocked up with food and good to go forever.
Don't you want to know your rights? How you are protected? What promises have been made and how you get them to work in your life? It's all in the Bible. The Old Testement and the New Testement - both are blood covenants and God won't break his word on either. His word is final.
Jesus came to fulfill the old covenant, so thank God we are under his grace and by his blood are we saved. Satan does not want you to know your authority as a believer, and instead of fighting him many choose to loom in the darkness where they are kept powerless and of no effect for the Kingdom, waiting on God to move and do something. The truth is God and his army of angles are waiting on us to say his words in Jesus' name so He has something to work with here on this earth. Till Jesus comes back Satan is the god of this world and he's not giving it up till he has to or unless he has no choice. Jesus Christ is the only one who had defeated him so only in the authority of Jesus' name and by the Word of God are we able to fight him effectivly. His final defeat is coming as the day of the Lord approaches but there is power in the name of Jesus and as born again believers we have authority to put down what comes against us in the glorious name of Jesus and to embrace all that the blessings of being a child of God and joint heir with Christ means. (Romans 8:17) . A wake-up call is being rung, it's time for the army of the Lord to come forward, put on the armor of God and when you've done all to stand, stand!.(Ephesian 6:10-19)
God who said in Psalm 89:34
My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
This means his word is final, it is what it is, he's not changing it, or altering it.
He does what he says he's going to do. He Keeps His Word - Always!
Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that he
should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said,
and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it
good?
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever
If you are interested in learning more, I highly recommend.
The Victory Channel
www.govictory.com
They have a variety of ways you can watch, hear and learn more
about the truth that's in the Word of God.
I watch on Apple TV - Internet and via YouTube
They are always on and the teaching you find there is Truth because it's full word of God not parts and pieces pulled out of context.
Watch and listen - don't take my word for it or their word for it. Hear what's being taught, then pick up the Bible and check it for yourself. Ask the Lord to lead you and show you if what they are teaching is Truth. Truth = Life when you have a relationship with the one who made you... the one who saved you. You just need to believe Him and receive Him and eternal salvation is yours.
One choice made with your heart and spoken with your mouth, that's all it takes.
Prayer of Salvation
If you do not know Jesus as your Savior and Lord,
simply pray the following prayer in faith, and Jesus will be your Lord!
Heavenly
Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus. Your Word says, "Whosoever
shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21). I am calling on You. I pray and ask Jesus to come into my heart and be Lord over my life according to Romans 10:9-10:
"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe
in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation." I do that now. I confess that
Jesus is Lord, and I believe in my heart that God raised Him from the
dead.
I am now reborn! I am a Christian—a child of Almighty God! I am saved!
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
May the Lord Jesus bless you all, may you be of good hope and cheer and find you can trust in Him for he cares for you. Blessed be and I hope you found this post a blessing to your day as well.
- EKDuncan
