What is schoolmarm?

Schoolmarm is an old-fashioned term that refers to a female teacher, particularly in a rural or small-town setting. The term was commonly used in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when women were primarily employed as teachers in the United States. Schoolmarms were often characterized as strict and stern, with a focus on discipline and moral education. Many schoolmarms were unmarried, and teaching was considered to be a respectable and socially acceptable profession for single women. Today, the term schoolmarm is rarely used, as it is seen as outdated and somewhat sexist.