15 Educational Videos You Watched in the ’80s That Made No Sense
This is a nostalgic dive into 15 perplexing educational videos from the 1980s that left us more confused than enlightened.
- Daisy Montero
- 3 min read
The 1980s were a golden era for educational videos, aiming to enlighten young minds with engaging content. However, not all succeeded in their mission. This listicle revisits videos that despite their educational intent, left viewers scratching their heads.
1. High Feather
Yan Krukau on Pexels
“High Feather” aimed to teach kids about health and teamwork through summer camp adventures. However, its melodramatic plots and over-the-top acting often overshadowed the educational messages, leaving viewers bewildered.
2. Storylords
Ben Merk / Anefo on Wikimedia Commons
“Storylords” combined fantasy elements with reading lessons, featuring a young protagonist battling the evil Thorzuul. While imaginative, the show’s complex narrative often muddled its educational intent.
3. Look Around You
Voyefex11 on Wikimedia Commons
“Look Around You” parodied educational science programs, presenting absurd experiments with deadpan seriousness. Its satirical nature often left viewers questioning what was real and what was jest.
4. Fitness and Me
Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels
This series used quick animations to teach kids about fitness and the human body. While informative, the surreal visuals often distract from the core lessons.
5. Hanna-Barbera Educational Filmstrips
Iraj Paran & Hanna-Barbera on Wikimedia Commons
These film strips featured beloved cartoon characters teaching various subjects. However, the blend of entertainment and education sometimes resulted in muddled messages.
6. Luc or His Share of Things
Yource on Wikimedia Commons
This film aimed to teach children about sharing and fairness. Its heavy-handed approach and somber tone made it more perplexing than instructive.
7. More Bloody Meetings
Ron Lach on Pexels
This British film used humor to address workplace meeting etiquette. Its exaggerated scenarios often left viewers more amused than educated.
8. A Nightmare on Drug Street
Wesley Davi on Pexels
This anti-drug film used horror elements to deter drug use among teens. Its intense imagery and dramatic narrative often overshadowed its preventive message.
9. PCSFN Fitness Films
FMKidz on Wikimedia Commons
Produced by the President’s Council on Physical Fitness, these films promoted exercise among youth. Their rigid routines and dated aesthetics made them less appealing over time.
10. Protect and Survive
Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels
This series taught British citizens how to survive a nuclear attack. Aimed at education, its haunting tone and bleak visuals ended up frightening more than informing.
11. Ding Dong School
Whitman Publishing on Wikimedia Commons
Though it started earlier, “Ding Dong School” reruns aired in the ’80s for classroom use. Its incredibly slow pace and outdated references made kids feel like time stood still.
12. Square One TV
Oneras on Wikimedia Commons
Meant to make math fun through skits and music videos, “Square One” sometimes got too goofy for its own good. The educational value was often buried under layers of comedy.
13. Read All About It!
Anna Shvets on Pexels
This Canadian series combined reading lessons with intergalactic villains and time travel. While imaginative, the wild plot made it hard to remember the actual reading skills.
14. Tomes and Talismans
Nothing Ahead on Pexels
A librarian teaches information literacy in a post-apocalyptic future overrun by data-hating aliens. The storyline was fascinating—but you probably forgot it was supposed to teach library skills.
15. Slim Goodbody
Ron Lach on Pexels
Wearing a skin-tight suit painted with internal organs, Slim Goodbody taught health topics on TV. While memorable, his appearance haunted more childhoods than it helped.