{"id":2137,"date":"2013-09-04T08:58:15","date_gmt":"2013-09-04T12:58:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/archives\/?p=2137"},"modified":"2018-02-22T15:49:29","modified_gmt":"2018-02-22T19:49:29","slug":"thou-shalt-not","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/archives\/thou-shalt-not\/","title":{"rendered":"Thou shalt not . . ."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>A new school year is upon us, with all the annual rituals that accompany it: friends to be made, rooms decorated, class schedules to figure out.\u00a0 An essential opening-of-school tradition is our attempt to instill into all our students’ consciousnesses the concept of “A Certain Minimally Consistent Standard of Behavior,” also known as “The Rules.”\u00a0 Yes, friends, this is when Alma Mater<\/em> actually asserts her rights in loco parentis<\/em>.<\/p>\n

When I began to compile this essay, it occurred to me that it was a great topic for alumni input.\u00a0 A brief and wildly unscientific sampling of Facebook friends elicited many responses, some of which are reproduced here.\u00a0 But Amy Goodwillie Lipkin ’77 noted, “what I thought was ridiculous in my mind as a 16-year-old, I may not see as ridiculous now as an adult.”\u00a0 It’s a good point, one with which most parents or deans, if not every teenager, might concur.\u00a0 On the other hand, alumni recollections suggest that sometimes, even after many years, passions, or at least the memories of outrage, run high.\u00a0 It is also a reminder of the essential conflict between common sense and regulatory detail.\u00a0 Even today, the idea of having, say, a simple conceptual dress code of “neat, clean, and appropriate” is utterly impractical in a community of approximately 700 students and adults, who will voice as many opinions over exactly what that means.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>So instead, we parse details.\u00a0 It has always been so \u2014 even though any student worthy of the name is capable of meeting every letter of the dress code while still looking like he was run over while returning from a hobo convention.\u00a0 And students are masters of false logic.\u00a0 Some years ago I was attempting to explain the inappropriateness of the library as a venue for overenthusiastic affection.\u00a0 I was told, “But we aren’t allowed to use our rooms.”<\/p>\n

The earliest surviving compendium of school rules dates from the late 19th century, with the rise of printed student handbooks.\u00a0 But there is no question that from the 1840s forward, there were regulations, and lots of them.\u00a0 In 1856 newly-arrived student Abner Austin<\/a> wrote a friend back home, “We have just heard the rules in black and white and we might as well die as to not mind.”\u00a0 And as early as 1846, students published a wicked parody of the Annual Catalogue.<\/em>\u00a0 The real Catalogue<\/em> did not include a list of rules, but by definition, the parody must have mimicked something the students recognized.\u00a0 Some excerpts:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>“Whenever a particular study or exercise has been assigned to a Student, he will pursue that study or exercise until he catches it, unless allowed by the Principal to give up the chase.”<\/p>\n

“When the bell rings for study in the evening, all the Students are required to retire, without delay, to their respectable rooms for study, and are not allowed to leave them without permission of the Teacher on guard in the halls.”\u00a0 (We actually still have this rule, or something very similar.)<\/em><\/p>\n

“Students are not commanded to attend Divine Service on the Sabbath, the eloquence of the preacher alone being sufficient to draw them for miles around.\u00a0 But they are commanded not to sleep in meeting if they snore,<\/em> lest they wake up the natives.”<\/p>\n

“It is not expected that any of the Students enter into the marriage relation during the term, without first insulting the Principal.”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The last page of the Annual Catalog parody of 1846. Item 22 has the odor of something that actually happened.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here follows a sampling of school commandments over the decades.\u00a0 It’s not comprehensive; reading a century’s accumulation of good ideas from the Dean’s Office had, in all honesty, limited appeal.\u00a0 And in fact the 1950s and early 60s were an especially rich source of regulatory oddities.\u00a0 We have left recent decades alone, so not to appear to subvert the efforts of current or recent administrations, of which, after all, this writer is an enthusiastic member.<\/p>\n

A couple of additional observations: first, that many detailed rules never made it into print, although our alumni survey suggests they are clearly fresh in the minds of many graduates.\u00a0 Notwithstanding that, it is a fact that throughout history, student handbooks have never gotten shorter.\u00a0 They are constantly revised.\u00a0 This is, of course, a credit to our students’ creativity and their stubborn literalism.\u00a0 Or put differently, having in one year mandated jackets and ties, in subsequent years it inevitably became necessary to specify shirts and trousers.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The 1931 Northampton School Handbook, with handwritten revisions by Principal Dorothy Bement.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cEach boy is responsible daily for the care and appearance of his room and for an assigned job in the school.\u00a0 Immediately after breakfast each boy makes his bed, puts away his clothes, dusts and sweeps his room, and waits for his Student Council member to inspect it.\u00a0 Then he begins his work job.\u201d\u00a0 \u2013 Williston Academy, 1950s-60s.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cThe piano in Montgomery is for classical music only.\u00a0 All other pianos in school must be used carefully.\u201d \u2013 Northampton School for Girls, early 1960s.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are expected to be gentlemanly at all times.\u00a0 The boy with a cheerful, cooperative spirit gets the most out of boarding school life.\u201d \u2013 WA, 1950s-60s.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach student is permitted one 60-watt incandescent, or one 40-watt fluorescent light, and one 100-watt bridge lamp.\u00a0 A charge will be made for extra wattage.\u00a0 Radios are not permitted except for Senior Council members, but Victrolas are allowed unless the boy is below \u201cC\u201d Group or on \u201cGeneral Warning.\u201d\u00a0 No electrical equipment is allowed except razors and clocks.\u201d \u2013 WA, 1950s-60s.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo electrical equipment is allowed except razors, record players, clocks, and radios.\u201d \u2013 WA, late 1960s.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cSeniors may wear a conservative shade of lipstick downtown.\u00a0 Seniors may wear earrings during the week end and to dinner at night.\u201d \u2013 NSG, 1950s.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe School does not desire that students be visited by unchaperoned girls.\u201d \u2013 WA, 1950s-60s.<\/p>\n

\u201cStudents are forbidden to meet boys at any place not on the campus.\u201d \u2013 NSG, 1950s.<\/p>\n

\u201cA code of good grooming will be enforced.\u00a0 This precludes mustaches, beards, and lengthy sideburns.\u201d\u00a0 \u2013 WA, late 1960s.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have no time to read any magazines not on the approved list.\u00a0 Trashy magazines, books, pictures, or music will be confiscated.\u201d \u2013 NSG, 1940s & 50s.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cThe area behind the Main Street Campus . . . which is not cleared and any property across the Manhan River is closed to students at all times and any person in those areas is trespassing.\u00a0 No student is permitted below the top of the hill after dark.\u201d \u2013 Williston Northampton, 1980s.<\/p>\n

\u201cBermuda type shorts may be used after Daylight Savings Time has begun in the spring term provided they are accompanied by knee-length stockings, jackets, and ties.\u00a0 They may not be worn off campus.\u201d \u2013 WA, 1950s-60s.<\/p>\n

\u201cLong coats must be worn over gym tunics and over Bermudas when going from building to building.\u201d \u2013 NSG, early 1960s.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cIn general parents are notified in writing by the Headmaster\u2019s wife if a boy is to spend more than two nights in the Infirmary.\u00a0 Telephoning parents is not necessary and is discouraged.\u201d \u2013 WA, 1950s-60s.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo observances, however minute, that tend to spare the feelings of others can be classed under the heading of trivialities.\u201d \u2013 NSG, 1969, reprinted in WNS, 1971-72.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cGirls are not allowed to go to the Post Office or the Railroad Station unless given permission by one of the Principals.\u201d \u2013 NSG, 1940s & 50s.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the exception of the waiter, no one begins eating until all have been served.\u201d \u2013 WA, 1950s-60s.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo girl may keep more than \u00bd pound of candy in her room.\u201d \u2013 NSG, early 1960s.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll members of an athletic squad go neatly dressed to tea after the game for our visitors and stay with them until our guests must leave.\u201d \u2013 WA, 1950s-60s.<\/p>\n

\u201cSunday papers may be ordered at the office.\u00a0 No purchases are made on our way to and from church.\u201d \u2013 NSG, 1940s.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cMemorial Dormitory boys may smoke immediately after the noon and evening meals only, at the extreme east end of the pond near the spillway.\u00a0 Ford Hall boys may smoke only in their rooms.\u00a0 No Memorial Dorm boy may smoke in Ford Hall.\u201d \u2013 WA, 1950s-60s.<\/p>\n

\u201cStudents may not smoke on campus or in the Town of Easthampton.\u201d \u2013 WA, late 1960s.<\/p>\n

\u201cSmoking is permitted in the Ford Hall Waiting Rooms during meal hours and one half hour after the dining room closes.\u00a0 Students may also smoke in specially designated areas on the campus grounds.\u201d \u2013 WNS, 1971-72.<\/p>\n

\u201cSmoking or chewing tobacco is forbidden at Williston Northampton.\u00a0 Students may not smoke on or off campus in Easthampton.\u201d \u2013 WNS, 1987-88.<\/p>\n

\u201cEating on the street or chewing gum is a breach of good manners.\u201d \u2013 NSG, 1930s & 40s.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cOne fresh towel only is provided each boy each day.\u00a0 This is obtained by turning in a used towel.\u00a0 Lockers may never contain more than one towel.\u201d \u2013 WA, 1950s-60s.<\/p>\n

\u201cLaundry washed in the dormitory bathrooms must be removed by 8:30 A.M. or it will be confiscated.\u201d \u2013 NSG, early 1960s.<\/p>\n

\u201cTuxedos are required only for the spring prom and by members of the Glee Club for concerts.\u201d \u2013 WA, 1950s-60s.<\/p>\n

\u201cRemain seated after morning Chapel exercises until the Seniors have passed out.\u201d \u2013 Williston Seminary, 1898.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Your comments and questions are encouraged!\u00a0 Please use the link below.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A new school year is upon us, with all the annual rituals that accompany it: friends to be made, rooms decorated, class schedules to figure out.\u00a0 An essential opening-of-school tradition is our attempt to instill into all our students’ consciousnesses the concept of “A Certain Minimally Consistent Standard of Behavior,” also known as “The Rules.”\u00a0 … Continue reading Thou shalt not . . .<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_s2mail":"yes","footnotes":""},"categories":[140,9,453,12,43,25],"tags":[258,262,255,19,261,260,257,259,251],"class_list":["post-2137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alumni-alumnae","category-northampton-school-for-girls","category-student-life","category-williston-academy","category-williston-northampton-school","category-williston-seminary","tag-abner-austin","tag-annual-catalogue","tag-bad-behavior","tag-dorothy-m-bement","tag-dress-code","tag-parodies","tag-rules","tag-student-handbook","tag-student-humor"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2137"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2137"}],"version-history":[{"count":50,"href":"https:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2137\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3786,"href":"https:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2137\/revisions\/3786"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willistonblogs.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}