Search Results for: then and now

If you attended school anywhere from 1950 all the way until 1970, you know that things were ever-changing as the decades rolled by. Nowadays, students are often trying to keep their iPhones hidden under their slim desks, hoping the teacher doesn't catch them (or, the teacher is perfectly fine with them texting and doesn't really care). Back then, iPhones didn't exist, a "proper" dress code is a thing of the past (in some schools), and students were forced to pay attention in class, in addition to the changes happening around them. Whether it was the change in fashion, hairstyles, or even the classroom desks, it's a lot different now than it was back then! Here's a year-by-year playback of what school was like in the '50s and '60s, up until 1970. 1950 EduExcellence In 1950, most kids lived within walking distance of their school, so they often walked instead of taking the bus. 1951 Ann Arbor District Library Computers and the internet were not available, so books were the main source of research. 1952 The Spokesman-Review Typewriters were used to write papers and teachers wrote on blackboards with chalk. There were no 'smartboards' or 'whiteboards'. 1953 State Magazine | Indiana State University Filmstrip projectors were used if the teacher wanted to show a video in class. 1954 John Fry Productions School tuition was as little as $3 per month. 1955 Civil Rights Teaching Black students had separate proms, sports teams, and student governments. Segregation was alive and thriving back in the '50s and black students often attended poor schools with a lack of textbooks and other educational resources. 1956 Pinterest Baseball and basketball were the only sports played in school. 1957 South High School Students could leave and go home for lunch and lockers weren't even a thing back then. 1958 UM-Flint Anniversary - University of Michigan-Flint Field trips were an incredibly rare occurrence. 1959 San Antonio Express-News By the end of the 1950s, a law was passed by the Supreme Court to desegregate schools. Despite this advancement, things only got harder from this point. Read more about how much school has changed throughout the years on the NEXT page... As the '60s were up and coming, the dress code was very strict and corporal punishment was the most common way of dealing with a student's misbehavior in school. Did you wear any of these outfits to school during the '50s and '60s? 1960 Class Creator In 1960, the dress code was pretty strict. Girls were required to wear skirts or dresses and pants of any type were forbidden. Skirts and dresses had to cover the knee. 1961 Reading Through History The only tops permitted (for women) were blouses and sweaters. Anything sleeveless was not allowed. 1962 Sonoma Heritage Collections - Sonoma County Library Makeup was allowed for women, but only if it was light and not overdone. 1963 National Museum of American History - Smithsonian Institution Slacks were required for boys. Jeans were forbidden, similar to pants being forbidden for women. Shorts were not allowed either. 1964 Corpun The most common form of punishment in school was paddling. Staying inside during recess or standing in a corner were also other forms of punishment. 1965 Reddit Tennis shoes (sneakers) were not allowed outside of gym class. 1966 PatricksMercy / Flickr Hair (for boys) was to be kept short and well-groomed at all times. It was not allowed for their hair to touch their shirt collar. 1967 PatricksMercy / Flickr Segregation was still ever-powerful throughout the '60s, despite the Supreme Court working to desegregate schools. White and black students had to attend different schools based on their nationality. 1968 Smollin Students and schools, in general, were much more religious as many of the school's teachings and lessons were based on religion. 1969 LIFE If students were not part of a public school system with a dress code, they wore uniforms that followed the same dress code rules. 1970 Pinterest New year, new you? Back-to-school shopping consisted of a shopping spree at Sears for all of your clothes and school supplies. Corduroys and patterned shirts were in because who needs a dress code? Not '70s kids. Freedom for fashion amongst other things exploded in the '70s. Did you attend school during any of these years? Be sure to SHARE this article if you were a 50s, '60s, or '70s student!