In colonial schools, students who misbehaved would face strict punishments. These included being made to wear humiliating signs that described their misconduct, like "Idle Boy" or "Bite Finger Baby". Students may also be hit with sticks, rods, or rulers. Those who fell asleep or did not know the answers when called on risked wearing a dunce cap as punishment. Talking in class could result in boys and girls being tied together like oxen as a embarrassing consequence.

1. Crime and Punishment
Colonial Schools Edition

2. Idle boy (or girl)
When a student
daydreams he or she
would get punished.

3. Idle boy
The student who
"spaced out"would
have to wear a sign
that said IDLE BOY.

5. If a student was
caught biting her nails
she would get
punished.

6. Bite Finger Baby
To make the "nail
biter" feel
embarrassed, she
would have to wear a
sign that said "bite-
finger baby."

8. If a student fidgeted or
fooled around at their
seats he would get
punished.

9. Fidgeting
The teacher would
take a wooden stick
and clip it to pinch the
student's nose. Ouch!

10. Throwing supplies
In this picture you see
a kid not behaving; he
is throwing supplies.

11. In colonial times, teachers
would often hit students
with a stick, rod or ruler.

13. Really really lazy boy
If a boy dared to fall
asleep or slack off, he
would be punished.

14. This student would
have to wear a sign
that said "lazy boy" or
"lazy" followed by his
name. This would be
Lazy Sam.

16. Here you see a teacher calling on a student and
the student does not know the answer. She
would get into trouble for this.

17. Dunce cap
She would have to
wear this dunce cap.

18. Students talking
If a boy and girl
talked to each
other in class they
were punished.

19. Tie them together!
The teacher
would embarrass
the students by
tying the boy and
girl together like
oxen.

20. Our advice:
Behave in school!

21. The End!!!