by 
The Curious Bag
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The remarkable Clara Barton is probably best known for her nursing practice during the Civil War, for which she became known as the "Angel of the the Battlefield." Barton was not only accomplished as a nurse, however; she was also a teacher.
Early Life
Clarissa Harlowe Barton was born on Dec. 25, 1821, in New Oxford, Massachusetts. As the youngest of five children, most of her education came from her older siblings. Even at the age of 4, she could spell complicated words.
Prediction
When she was 16, a phrenologist predicted that she would overcome her severe shyness by becoming a teacher. (Phrenology was a dubious science, popular in the 1800s, in which a person's future could be told by "reading" the bumps on the subject's head.)
Young Teacher
In 1838, at age 16, Barton did indeed become a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse. She was highly regarded for her non-punitive methods of discipline, according to the Clara Barton Birthplace Museum.
Her Own School
In 1850, Barton furthered her studies for a year, then decided to open her own free public school in New Jersey.
Teaching Career Ended
Although the school prospered under Barton's leadership, she was forced to step down when the board hired a man instead, says the Women in History website.
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