Gee, now that upholstery must be sanitary. Where's Lysol when you need it?
As for male teachers, at least in the United States, many were single and barely able support themselves (let alone support a family) unless they got a good position at a private school or at a University where they would fare better financially.
Generally, in small public schools across the US, teachers were not paid much. The same situation still holds true in many areas of the US today where a teacher's wage can be as little as $24,000 a year. Keep in mind that the poverty line in the US is currently about $21,000 for a family of 4, although this is just statistics. I don't know about anyone else, and I don't mean to be belittling, but I would find it very difficult to support even just myself on a salary of $21,000 and wouldn't dream of having a family under that circumstance today. I'm just saying that for me, that sum wouldn't work. Others might feel differently.
As for male teachers, at least in the United States, many were single and barely able support themselves (let alone support a family) unless they got a good position at a private school or at a University where they would fare better financially.
Generally, in small public schools across the US, teachers were not paid much. The same situation still holds true in many areas of the US today where a teacher's wage can be as little as $24,000 a year. Keep in mind that the poverty line in the US is currently about $21,000 for a family of 4, although this is just statistics. I don't know about anyone else, and I don't mean to be belittling, but I would find it very difficult to support even just myself on a salary of $21,000 and wouldn't dream of having a family under that circumstance today. I'm just saying that for me, that sum wouldn't work. Others might feel differently.