I calculated the other day that if I were to work for the better-paying of the two districts that employ me as a substitute teacher for every single school day of the year, I would still make less than $15,000 a year before taxes. Then while reading the Carlisle Gazette today, I came across this advertisement:
“SAMUEL TIZZARD.
Continues to teach Reading, English Grammar, Arithmetic, &c. at his house opposite to Judge Brackenridge’s. He will wait on parents having children of either sex to educate, and show them specimens of his own writing, and the progress of some of his scholars; or any gentleman or lady calling at his house may view the same.
Young females may be taught Needlework, by his wife and daughters, part, or the whole of the day.
On Monday the 1st of October he proposes opening a Night School for such persons of either sex as not having leisure & opportunity during the day, wish to be taught Reading, Writing Arithmetic, Geometry, Trigonometry, Measuration, Surveying, Gauging and Algebra. If required a separate room will be appropriated for the females.
Night School hours, from 7 till 9 — Tuition 2 Dollars per Quarter.
12th September, 1804.”
Now, $2.00 isn’t a lot, even taking account for the fact that in 1804 it could purchase the equivalent of $24.58 today (at least according to The Inflation Calculator). I suppose that I’m comparatively well paid today, considering that was tuition for one student for an entire quarter. But then again, Samuel Tizzard and I had something else in common — neither of us was represented by a teacher’s union.
PS- I took out all of the old scripty ‘s’es that look like ‘f’s from the advertisement. Af much fun af it would be to ufe them exclufively for the letter f, it makef it much more difficult for me to type, much leff for everyone elfe to read.