The methods of discipline used by the one-room school teacher were all very similar. A paddle, a switch, or a sharp slap across the palm of the hand with a wooden ruler were the tools to keep unruly students in line. The one common concept that came out of all of the interviews was that there just were not that many discipline problems. Corine Dye, a one-room school teacher from 1949 to 1954, stated in her interview that she really couldn't remember having any discipline problems. "The children cherished the opportunity to attend school and they were very eager to learn."
Francis Kiser, a teacher from 1937 to 1939, also stated that there just weren't that many discipline problems. "I may have switched two or three students a year, but I just mostly sent notes home to the parents and they would take care of any problems that I was having. The kids acted right because parents demanded it, I would just send notes home." The economic problems caused by the Depression was a key factor to maintaining discipline according to Mrs. Kiser. "I think one of the reasons we didn't have discipline problems was because we kept a big pot of potatoes and onions or other food from area farms on the stove at all times. We would share biscuits and jelly or just plain biscuits. Sometimes this was all the students would get, so I think they appreciated this and I know their parents appreciated it."
Coach Larry Shortt mentioned in his interview that the teacher ruled with and "iron hand and ruled with absolute authority." Coach Shortt continued to elaborate that the parents always supported the discipline methods of the teacher and that if you were disciplined at school, then you were disciplined at home.
Anna Laura Peters stated she remembered her teacher smacking a student on the head. "One time she smacked a boy and hurt her hand. In about 1922 when I began teaching the Superintendent told us teachers to keep a switch in the corner to switch the students. I would keep my students in at recess if they misbehaved. In some of the one-room schools the teacher would draw a circle on the board and make students put their nose in the circle."
All of the students and teachers interviewed agreed that parents rarely came to the school to respond to discipline problems, and they always supported the teacher and the teacher's methods of discipline. They thought of school attendance as a privilege, and they encouraged the children to respect the authority of the teacher.