Necessary Rules for Children in Pennsylvania Dutch Country

Mennonite schoolmaster Christopher Dock first published his A Hundred Necessary Rules of Conduct for Children in 1764. It instructed children how to keep their belongings tidy, behave in public and stay awake in church. While even the best-behaved Mennonite boy couldn’t resist the allure of a well-placed puddle, the schoolmaster laid out helpful guidelines. Schoolteacher Paul Breon brings the rules into context for today’s children and parents in Necessary Rules for Children in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, with charming period photography by Tonya Wilhelm. Rediscover timeless wisdom in the first guide to etiquette published in the American colonies.