Serious Stuff

Old School Piedmont

PC Magazine Spring 2007

By Taryn Gadbois

There has been a lot of talk around Piedmont lately about rules, more specifically, the visitation rules. Let’s face it, boys and girls like to hang out with each other. Piedmont students also feel they are old enough to make their own decisions once they come to college. I do agree with the need to modify some of the rules, but in a lot of cases we are extremely lucky. Piedmont students from years before had it much worse. I recently discovered a really interesting book. The Centennial History of Piedmont College takes the reader all the way back to when Piedmont first opened. Now unless you are really interested in the history of Piedmont this isn’t going to be an interesting book. However, there are some pretty interesting parts. The old rules, for example, are extremely entertaining. Since I don’t expect everyone to run out and buy the book just so they can look up the old rules, I’ll just tell you about the really good ones.

When Piedmont opened in 1897, students had to answer to the President and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Spence. Brother Spence, as he was known, took over the discipline of the boys and Mrs. Spence watched over the girls. Mr. Spence was known to whip the boys for their “sins” and occasionally put them over his knee and whip them that way. Even with the whippings, the boys had it pretty easy compared with the girls. The following is a list of the most intense rules that girls had to follow:

1. Girls must not communicate with young gentlemen without special permission.
2. Girls may not leave the ground without permission, and the permission must be obtained from Brother Spence.
3. Rooms must be neatly arranged before leaving them and must be kept so during the entire day.
4. All must observe the Sabbath by attending church and Sabbath School. This is obligatory, and it is useless to matriculate with any other understanding or expectation. Boisterous conduct on this day is strictly forbidden (Just in case you’re curious, boisterous means “marked by or expressive of exuberance and high spirits.” In other words, having fun.).
5. On Friday afternoon a teacher will accompany girls to the store, etc., but at no other time.
6. No brother or cousin is permitted to accompany the girls on their way to and from church, nor at any other time on the streets.
7. No writing or receiving notes from young gentlemen is permitted. If a note is sent, it is to be taken to Mrs. Spence and her direction in the matter is final. No correspondence with young men, unless proper persons write to the President and he plainly states that correspondence meets his approval.

Can you imagine not even being able to talk to the opposite sex? I couldn’t stand not being able to go to the store whenever I wanted. Rules like these seem unreasonable. It makes me glad that I’m alive today and not back then. But wait- there are more rules. From 1910-1930 the rules changed slightly. There weren’t just ridiculous rules for the girls. The new rules extended to the whole student body.

1. No student shall be outside of Common Halls to the library after dark, or in any case after 7:25 without permission.
2. The dormitory is to be absolutely quiet before the ringing of the Rising Bell and after the ringing of the Retiring Bell.
3. Students may not study outside their rooms except by permission.
4. Special requests from parents or guardians must be mailed directly to the Dean of Women before permission will be given for students to spend the weekend away from Demorest.

Of course there were rules especially for girls:
1. Every girl is responsible for the neatness and order of her room, which must be ready for inspection by 9 a.m.
2. Walking with young men is limited to Sunday afternoon from 2:30 to 3:30. The couples will go in a group accompanied by a chaperone.
3. Walking on the streets or elsewhere with young men without special permission is forbidden.
4. Studying or loitering on the streets, Common steps, in the park, or other public place is not permitted.
5. The borrowing and wearing of clothes belonging to another is absolutely not permitted.

Needless to say after reading all the crazy rules I have to be thankful for the way Piedmont is run today. I can’t imagine Piedmont having a growing student body if any of these rules were carried over to today. However, there is one policy that we have in common with the past.

Piedmont faculty and staff used to be able to give out demerits if someone was caught doing something wrong. Depending on the offense, parents are contacted and the student’s future at Piedmont could be in question. Sounds a lot like the current way bad behavior is handled. Students are written up and then sent to judicial where their fate is determined. I’m just glad that’s the only thing we have in common with students of the past.

 

More Spring 2007 Serious Stuff Articles

Shocking News: There is something to do in Demorest

Demorest water in trouble

Disguised

Sex education on your cell phone

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