It’s hard to believe, but summer vacation is already more than halfway over!
Before we know it, it will be time to dust off those No.2 pencils and pull the old backpacks out of the closet — perhaps even for a gorgeous hand-painted makeover like this one.
In fact, we have just a couple of weeks left before back-to-school shopping begins in earnest. That’s why it’s nice to take a moment before the hubbub begins, and reflect on the simpler days of education in America.
After all, the contemporary public school system is a lot more complex than it used to be, and there are all sorts of old habits and bits of etiquette that have fallen away over the years.
Still, we have a bit of a soft spot for some of the quaint nostalgia we’ll always associate with antique classrooms and old-fashioned school marms!
Scroll through the gallery below to see a few of our favorites!
1. The 'Fashion' Desk
American students didn't start heading to school on a large, organized scale until the late 19th century.
At that time, classrooms were mostly furnished with rows of desk like John Loughlin's "fashion" desk.
These desks were comprised of a bench and slated tabletop built together, and fit together to form connected rows stretching from the front to the back of the classroom.
2. Fountain Pens And Inkwells
If you've ever written with a fountain pen, you already know that it takes a bit of a knack!
It's all too easy to scratch at the wrong angle and blot your paper; that probably goes a long way toward explaining how important penmanship was back in the day.
These pens featured a nib that guided ink onto the paper, and ink had to be refilled from inkwells periodically, which were often built right into the desk.
3. Lunch Pails
Long ago, children didn't have insulated lunch bags or even tin boxes with superheroes on the front.
Nope, school children of the old days were totally dependent on their lunch pails to eat their evening meal.
Kids would almost always walk to school, from a distance of up to six miles, and would bring things that kept well, like bread, ham, and baked potatoes, in sealable pails for the lunch break.
4. Uniforms
Not all schools had a strict uniform, but there were generally fairly sturdy rules about what could and couldn't be worn.
In America, girls and boys, especially during the 1800s, were expected to do heavy work before and after the school day, so they wore plain, serviceable clothes that were acceptable for the classroom or for chores.
When a uniform was prescribed, it might be a pinafore, or a shirt and trousers in a certain color scheme.
5. One-Room Schoolhouses
We've all probably seen or at least heard of a one-room schoolhouse, but most of us haven't attended classes in one.
These old-fashioned educational outposts usually served as magnet schools in rural areas, with one small school serving all the young people for miles around.
All grades and levels were taught together in the same classroom, with most older students dropping out or coming less frequently as they worked increasingly in family businesses or farms.
6. Slates And Chalk
Given what we already know about the capricious nature of fountain pens, it's not surprising that most kids relied on small, erasable slates instead.
Expensive ink and paper were reserved only for special occasions; most kids learned their lessons on the reusable slate and wrote with chalk.
Meanwhile, kids had one or two basic books to study, which were often carried using a book strap, like a belt with a handle.
7. School Bells
Most of still remember shrill bells ringing at the beginning and end of the day, or in between classes.
What we don't remember is the deep, melodic ringing of a manual bell hanging from a tower on top of the school.
Plenty of churches still have bell towers, but schools have phased out the deep bells that once summoned children to class or sent them out for lunch.
Do you remember any more school traditions of a bygone era? Let us know in the comments!
And, to weigh in on more modern school habits, make sure to take the back-to-school quiz below!
Remember to SHARE this nostalgic look back with friends and family!
