20 Things Kids Were Allowed to Do in School in the 1970s

Throughout the 1970s, schools had a more relaxed atmosphere, a more relaxed pace than those found in contemporary schools. For example, many teens arrived at school in their own automobiles, listening to their favorite tunes in the parking lot, and some even left school grounds during their lunch period. Some wore their bicycles without helmets, listened to portable radios, and customized their lockers with posters of their favorite musical and sports heroes. The classroom environment was also casual, such as chewing gum, passing notes, doodling on the chalkboard before class, and selecting their seats without much concern about assigned seats. Teens had more freedom that would make some people blush in the present day.

1. Students Smoking in Designated School Areas

Back in the 1970s, it was a very common sight in many high schools to find kids smoking right on the school campus. Schools even designated small areas on the school campus for smoking activities. During lunchtime or between classes, kids would congregate in these areas, and everyone in school knew where to find them. The schools did not prohibit this activity but tried to channel it in a particular direction by designating these areas as smoking areas. This was also in line with the social behavior of that era because smoking was much more acceptable than it is today.

2. Carrying Pocketknives to School

In the 1970s, there was nothing unusual about kids carrying small pocket knives to school. Carrying these small, folding knives was not seen as anything threatening. It was quite common for boys to wear these knives clipped into their pockets. These knives were often gifts from mom, dad, and grandparents. Carrying these knives was not seen as anything unusual, especially in rural and suburban schools. Students often used the knives in action during the day. They used them to cut strings, sharpen pencils, and open art project packages. Some teachers expected students to bring basic tools from home, and carrying pocket knives was quite fitting. It was only when students mishandled the knives that teachers got involved.

3. Teachers Freely Using Physical Punishment

In the early and mid-1970s, corporal punishment was still a common occurrence in most schools. Teachers and school administrators would often use paddles, rulers, and even boards to discipline students who had misbehaved. Going to the principal’s office would often result in the student being paddled several times. This was considered a serious but acceptable way to discipline students. Most parents would not intervene in this practice, as they had also been subjected to it in school. School policies would sometimes outline the steps to administer corporal punishment. The idea was to assert their authority and ensure the student did not misbehave again.

4. Leaving School Campus During Lunch

In the 1970s, it was not uncommon for high school students, particularly juniors and seniors, to leave the school grounds during lunchtime. School authorities knew that the older kids would be back on time for their classes and that this was their small taste of freedom as they grew older. When the school bell rang to end their lunchtime, teens went in groups to the school gates and then to the row of diners, burger joints, and small grocery stores that welcomed them with open arms. Leaving school grounds to go to lunch was a thing among teens in the 1970s. Some teens went as far as to cruise to fast-food joints that were gaining popularity in the 1970s.

5. Bringing Personal Tools for Shop Class

In the 1970s, industrial arts classes were a big deal, and many students would attend with their own tools from home. The industrial arts classes were all about practical skills, not theories. The teacher would encourage students to use real tools rather than the simplified models used in teaching. Teenagers would arrive with their own toolboxes, which were compact and contained screwdrivers, pliers, a tape measure, and a wrench. Some would also carry hand saws or carving tools handed down from their parents or grandparents. The room would resemble a tiny workshop instead of a traditional classroom.

6. Roaming School Grounds During Free Periods

In many schools of the 1970s, students were given a lot of freedom during study halls or free periods. They were not confined strictly inside classrooms but were free to roam across school grounds. Some students walked across the school halls, talking with friends, while others went out of the classrooms and sat on benches near the sports fields. Teachers were responsible for ensuring students’ appropriate behavior, but supervision was not always tight. This was a period of less security and more student independence in school. Some students hung out near lockers, stairs, and even steps outside classrooms during these periods.

7. Driving Their Own Cars to School

In the 1970s, it was not uncommon to see kids arrive at school in their own vehicles every morning. Once a kid turned 16 and got a driver’s license, driving to school was a big part of their daily routine. There was usually a parking lot at school that had cars parked in neat lines. There were all different kinds of vehicles, ranging from small fuel-efficient boxes to hand-me-down sedans to classic American cars like a Ford Mustang, a Chevrolet Nova, or a VW Bug. The kids were usually allowed to drive to school as long as they parked in the parking lot and arrived on time. It was a hangout spot before and after school, and kids stood on the hoods of their cars, blaring their radios, and talking about their favorite rock groups or Friday night football.

8. Playing Music Loudly in the School Parking Lot

Music was a big part of teen culture in the 1970s, and the parking lot was a sort of hangout where music was shared and exchanged. Many students had music blaring from loudspeakers or cassette players installed in their cars. Before the first bell, music filled the air as everyone arrived and parked. Rock and roll, soul, and disco were popular music genres during those days. Teachers would catch a hint of it as they arrived at school. However, blasting music was not necessarily a major concern. Some students would hang around cars with open doors, sharing stories about their favorite music and artists. Although it was a concern for school authorities, it was not necessarily a major issue as long as it was kept under control and did not interfere with anything.

9. Chewing Gum Freely During Class

Gum chewing in class was much more prevalent in the 1970s than it is today. Teachers tolerated it as long as it did not become unruly and noisy. You would see brightly colored packs of gum sticking out of desks, backpacks, and jacket pockets. Students would chew quietly as they listened to a lecture, read a book, or write notes. To many teachers, it seemed like a harmless activity, a small distraction compared to some of the bigger discipline issues that caused bigger problems in class. Before school started, kids would pass a little pack of gum across the desk as a friendly gesture.

10. Running Unsupervised Games on the Playground

Back in the 1970s, school playgrounds were much looser and had much less supervision than today’s schoolyards. The school recess was like an open field of opportunities, and kids ran things on their own with much less supervision from grown-ups. Kickball, dodgeball, tag, and other sports were played on a daily basis. The kids were in charge of making up the rules, picking teams, and resolving conflicts on their own. The general atmosphere was one of independence and creativity as kids learned how to get along and cooperate with each other. The playground was like a bustling canvas of activity and imagination as kids played out their afternoon recess.

11. Passing Handwritten Notes Between Desks

Before the advent and proliferation of smartphones and chat applications, classrooms in the 1970s thrived on discreet and silent courier services, where students would pass handwritten notes from desk to desk while their teachers wrote away at the blackboard. The notes were minuscule, often containing humorous content, questions, or arrangements to meet after school. The students would creatively fold the notes in such a way that they could slide between the desks discreetly, without attracting attention from the teachers. This became a clandestine form of communication, and most students mastered this art with uncanny ease.

12. Decorating Lockers with Personal Posters and Photos

School hallways were a kaleidoscope of colors in the 1970s, with lockers side by side, each one a tiny stage for self-expression. Inside the lockers, students entered their own little world, with posters, clippings, and family photos tucked into the metal caves. It wasn’t just the items inside the lockers that mattered; it was the people they represented. The faces of favorite musicians, movie stars, and sports heroes gazed out from the locker doors, making the humble metal box a personalized gallery. It was a private world within the school and in the midst of the school day. Students would linger in the school hallway, complimenting and admiring each other and their own personalized lockers before the bell would signal the end of the respite.

13. Bringing Homemade Food to Share with the Entire Class

In the 1970s, classrooms were often the recipients of homemade treats such as cakes, cookies, brownies, and cupcakes made the night before and packed by the parents of the kids and sent with the kids to school. When the bell rang, and it was time for the celebration, the lesson would stop, and the kid would be called upon to share. Before long, the room would be filled with the enticing aroma of something freshly baked. Even plates, napkins, and paper cups would be used as the kids gathered around the desks to partake of the surprise. Sharing these homemade treats would create a quick, easy sense of community. It all seems perfectly normal, and that’s because food safety regulations were not as stringent at the time.

14. Wearing Casual and Relaxed Clothing Without Strict Dress Codes

The 1970s were a time when schools allowed kids to wear casual wear without adhering to dress codes. The dress codes were not as stringent as they are today. Teenagers came dressed in denim jeans and comfortable sneakers. The fashion of the 1970s was highlighted by bell-bottoms, graphic t-shirts, and wide collars. The outfits were often inspired by the music and pop culture that students of that era enjoyed. The teachers seemed more focused on ensuring students behaved well in class than on what they were wearing. The corridors were filled with different outfits that reflected the fashion of the 1970s, which was relaxed and casual.

15. Writing on Chalkboards Before the Teacher Arrived

Before the class had even officially begun, many students from the 1970s enjoyed strolling up to the big chalkboard and leaving their mark. The front of the chalkboard had become a temporary mural for cartoons, jokes, and friendly greetings. The drawings would be created, the jokes would be written, and the quick messages to friends would be written on the chalkboard. It was not uncommon for the teacher to arrive in the room and find the chalkboard already covered in playful artwork. It was mostly harmless and just a little bit of fun to begin the day. The students would gather around the chalkboard and look at the cartoons and messages written by the early arrivals to the room. It was a way for them to begin the day with a little bit of fun and excitement.

16. Riding Bicycles to School Without Helmets

Biking to school in the 1970s was a daily routine for many children. Every morning, there would be a number of bikes on the street near the school. The children would ride their bikes towards the simple metal racks to park their bikes. At that time, no one used helmets. The children rode their bikes with a feeling of freedom. The idea of wearing helmets did not cross their minds. It was like a normal rite of passage to gain a little independence as long as there was a school nearby. The bike racks would be like a hangout for the children before the first bell rang. The children would put their bikes on the rails. They would talk to their friends as they waited for school to begin. They would give each other updates about the new handlebars, baskets, or decals that they added to their bikes.

17. Staying After School Without Immediate Adult Pickup

After the last bell rang in the 1970s, many students lingered around the school, even after classes ended. While there were clubs and sports, many students lingered around, talking to their friends or completing their homework with their friends around them. Parents did not necessarily rush to pick up their kids immediately after classes ended. The kids walked around the campus, sat on the bleachers near the athletic field, or stood near the front doors, talking to each other and hanging around. The teachers supervised the kids, but not necessarily in an organized manner. The after-school hours were quite casual, and this period helped the kids develop independence and good social skills. Later, the schools began with a more structured supervision and dismissal process.

18. Bringing Personal Radios or Cassette Players

In the 1970s, portable radios and the first cassette players were a real craze with young people, especially teens. It seemed like many students took these useful devices to school, especially to their lunches or free periods. For example, a student might bring a portable radio to the table with their friends during lunchtime, and everyone might gather around to listen to the music or local stations. The schoolyard might be filled with the beat of rock, pop, and disco music, and everyone might be kicking back, enjoying their time between classes. It was all very exciting, especially because these small music devices were still relatively new inventions. People loved to share their favorite songs and talk about the new bands they had heard on the radio.

19. Using Typewriters in Class for Written Assignments

In the 1970s, classrooms frequently had room for portable typewriters. Students carried heavy metal typewriters in rectangular cases with sturdy handles, prepared to tackle essays, reports, and research papers during writing time. Typing was the rage, and schools recognized its value as a gateway to white-collar work and adult life. Some classrooms even placed the typewriters directly on the students’ desks, integrating the sound of typing into the learning experience. The sound of clicking keys provided the room with a unique cadence. Students shared stories of speed, boasted of newer, sleeker models, and admired the portability of the typewriters. Patience was another skill students learned, as errors required the use of correction tape or retyping entire pages.

20. Sitting Wherever They Wanted in Classrooms

In many classrooms of the 1970s, there was a very relaxed policy when it came to where students sat. When the bell rang, kids would wander in and sit anywhere they wanted, often sitting with friends to work on a project or talk softly before the teacher began. For big exams, teachers would rearrange the desks, but for everyday classes, there was a very fluid policy. This relaxed policy was likely a reflection of a society that valued trust and personal responsibility. Kids would often make their own rules based on where they chose to sit, with some choosing spots near windows for natural light and others choosing spots towards the back of the classroom where it was easier to talk. Friends choosing where they sat helped create the atmosphere of many classrooms.

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