15 Things That Were Taught in Schools But Aren’t Anymore
Here's a look at school lessons and practices that were once part of every classroom but have since disappeared.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
Schools have always evolved, shifting what children are taught to reflect the times. Subjects once considered essential, like penmanship and home economics, have quietly faded from most curriculums. This list brings back 15 classroom practices that were once taught everywhere but are no longer common in today’s schools.
1. Cursive Writing Practice
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Generations of students once filled pages with looping letters, perfecting their cursive handwriting. Today, typing has replaced penmanship drills, leaving many kids unable to even read cursive notes. For many, those lined handwriting workbooks are a true time capsule of school life.
2. Home Economics Class
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Cooking, sewing, and budgeting were once considered necessary skills taught in schools. These classes prepared students for everyday life but were phased out as academics took priority. Many adults still remember their first attempt at baking muffins in a home ec kitchen.
3. Typing on Typewriters
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Before laptops, students learned to type on clunky typewriters, listening to the rhythmic clack of keys. Typing drills were strict, often timed, to build speed and accuracy. Modern kids may never know the struggle of fixing a typo with correction tape.
4. Etiquette Lessons
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Some schools once taught proper manners, posture, and even dining etiquette. These classes reflected a time when formal behavior was seen as vital to success. Now, social skills are expected to be picked up at home or through experience.
5. Shop Class
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Learning how to build a birdhouse or fix a toolbox used to be part of the curriculum. Shop class taught woodworking, metalwork, and basic repairs that gave students hands-on experience. Today, such lessons are rare, replaced by technology-based classes.
6. Penmanship Competitions
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Students once competed to have the neatest and most elegant handwriting in class. Teachers proudly displayed the best examples on bulletin boards. Today, neatness takes a backseat to speed and digital convenience.
7. Slide Projector Lessons
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Teachers once dimmed the lights and clicked through slides on bulky projectors. Students squinted at maps, diagrams, and photos as part of their lessons. That old carousel sound has since been replaced by sleek digital presentations.
8. Sloyd or Craftwork
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Some schools once taught Sloyd, a Scandinavian system of craft-based education. It emphasized patience, precision, and creating useful objects by hand. While forgotten today, it laid the groundwork for hands-on learning.
9. Filmstrips in Class
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Teachers threaded reels into projectors and showed filmstrips on pull-down screens. The beep to signal a slide change is etched in memory for many former students. Today’s classrooms stream videos instantly instead.
10. Library Card Catalog Training
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Before Google, students had to master the library card catalog system. Flipping through index cards to find a book was a skill every student needed. Digital databases have made those drawers of cards obsolete.
11. Health Films and Hygiene Talks
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Schools once used grainy films to teach kids about hygiene, nutrition, and health. These lessons often felt awkward but were memorable for their quirky style. Now, health education has a broader and more digital approach.
12. Chalkboard Diagrams
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Teachers spent hours filling chalkboards with diagrams, equations, and notes. Students copied everything quickly, leaving classrooms filled with chalk dust. Today, whiteboards and smartboards dominate instead.
13. Singing the Multiplication Tables
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Instead of apps and flashcards, kids once sang multiplication tables out loud. The rhythm and repetition made math easier to memorize. These sing-along drills are far less common in modern classrooms.
14. Current Events Reports
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Students were once required to bring in newspaper clippings and report on the news. It encouraged awareness of the world and public speaking skills. Now, schools rely on digital sources and interactive media.
15. Patriotism and Flag Etiquette
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Many schools taught the proper way to fold a flag and recite pledges. These lessons tied education to national identity and civic duty. While still present in some places, it is far less emphasized today.