Back in the day...

[edflorence]

I graduated from high school in 1965. At that time in my English class we learned how to diagram sentences on paper and construct proper sentences. Nouns, verbs, adverbs, etc.. We had an actual chemistry lab where we did experiments with real chemicals. I learned trigonometry, geometry and algebra. In my advanced physics class we were out in the hallway when everyone was in class pulling brick loaded roller skates with a big rubber band measuring acceleration between timing lights.

We had a rifle club that I belonged to and actually had a 22cal competition shooting range in the basement of the high school. All the schools in the area had the same thing and we shot in competition. Oh my, this would/IS be totally banned today.

Oh how times have changed for the worse.
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John & Mary Burger
Eagle's Lair Woodshop
Hooper, UT

Could not agree more. I graduated from high school in '64 and had pretty much the same experiences. We had to pass the New York state-wide proficiency tests in English, Math, History and the Sciences to get our diploma. That solid basic education stood me in good stead all my working life.

We too had a rifle range in the basement of the school and in the fall and spring I would carry my rifle to school in a rifle bag on the public bus and nobody ever batted an eye. Imagine a kid trying to bring a rifle onto a city bus these days!

Back then most everybody smoked, and my school had a very strict no cigarettes rule. However, the teacher who moderated the amateur radio club always let us club members sneak a smoke in the "shack" which was located in an out-of-the-way corner of an attic storage space.

Life was pretty good for a kid in the early 60's!

[Gene Howe]

During hunting season there were rifles or shotguns in nearly every vehicle in the parking lot. We all carried knives of one type or another, too. Heck, in grade school, we played a game called stretch with them at recess.
Smoking was allowed in designated areas and some offices in school buildings. Can't remember any smoking restrictions outside.
For frame of reference, I graduated in 1959.

[dusty]

I had forgotten "Stretch". I used to do Stretch with by younger brother using an 8" hunting knife that my father gave me.

[Ed in Tampa]

I graduated in 65 too and many guys ran trap lines before school. They had rifles in their rifle racks in their trucks. But the biggest difference was while there were fights in school NO ONE went to their truck to get a gun. And I think 90% of the boys and quite a few girls carried knives. Never heard of someone being stabbed.

Also I was taught if a cop hollered “halt or I will shoot”, you had better stop or be prepared to be shot. No argument no doubt it was fact.

I was also taught to speak to police using the word “SIR” like in “ yes sir!” Or “no sir!”. If I was stopped by a police I was taught to do everything they told me to do or be prepared to suffer unwanted consequences. Biggest lesson I was taught was to never challenge their authority.

You know what I never had a problem. Sure I got stopped when I thought it was wrong but in most cases if I was not guilty then, I probably was guilty of doing the same thing earlier to later. Figured to equaled out.

Never protested but watched race riots in Pittsburgh in the 60's and the riots in Chicago democratic convention. But I have always voted in every election since I was 21.