Teachers of the Great Depression
Not only was it a struggle for the children but the teachers, too. Few teachers were hired leaving many teachers jobless. Teachers were paid flat fees regardless of their experience or education, many teachers also had their salaries cut. Most rural school teachers only had a high school diploma and were only sixteen years old when they started teaching. Rural school teachers would also live in the school house and cook all their food on a wood burning stove. In some cities there were places where teachers could live together, it was called the teacher's cottage. Since there was usually only one room in rural schoolhouses many teachers would have to be able to teach all grades, making it harder for the younger teachers.