What is school marm?

A school marm refers to a female teacher in a one-room schoolhouse or a small rural school in the United States during the 19th century. The term "marm" is a colloquialism for "ma'am" or "madam." School marms were commonly unmarried, and many were young women who had completed only basic education themselves. They were responsible for teaching reading, writing, arithmetic, and other rudimentary skills to children, including many who had to walk long distances to attend school. The school marm's classroom was often sparsely furnished, with a blackboard, a few textbooks, and crude desks and benches for the children. They were often strict disciplinarians who believed in rote learning and used corporal punishment to maintain order. Despite their limited resources, school marms played an essential role in the development of rural education in the US, and many of them inspired their students to pursue higher education and professional careers.