Retro School Days

About Retro School Days

Give your memory a workout with Retro School Days: 15 multiple-choice questions with a mix of 5 easy, 5 medium, 5 hard questions, free to play right in your browser. How well do you remember school life from the 1950s through 1970s? Expect to spend about 7 minutes; every question comes with an explanation, so you learn something even when you miss.

A few sample questions

1. 1. What purple-inked duplication machine was commonly used by teachers to make handouts before photocopiers?

   Answer: Mimeograph machine

   The mimeograph machine (often called a 'ditto machine') was the standard way teachers made copies. Students loved the fresh, slightly damp purple-inked pages and their distinctive smell.

2. 2. What did students practice during 'duck and cover' drills in the 1950s and 1960s?

   Answer: Hiding under desks in case of nuclear attack

   Duck and cover drills taught students to hide under their desks and cover their heads in case of a nuclear attack. The drills were a regular part of school life during the Cold War era.

3. 3. What glass bottle of milk was delivered to classrooms for students during the 1950s and 1960s?

   Answer: A half-pint carton or bottle

   Half-pint bottles or cartons of milk were delivered to classrooms daily. Students would drink their milk during a mid-morning break, and milk monitors were responsible for distribution.

4. 4. What writing instrument were students required to learn to use in cursive writing class?

   Answer: Fountain pen or cartridge pen

   Many schools required fountain pens or cartridge pens for cursive writing practice. Students learned to write in flowing script, often using special penmanship workbooks like the Palmer Method.

5. 5. What educational TV show featuring a gentle host in a cardigan was often shown in classrooms?

   Answer: Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

   Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, hosted by Fred Rogers, aired from 1968 to 2001. His calm, gentle approach to teaching children about feelings and the world was beloved by generations.

Things you'll learn along the way

• ✓Writing sentences on the chalkboard (such as 'I will not talk in class' repeated 50 or 100 times) was a common punishment. Some teachers also used a ruler on the knuckles or sent students to the principal's office for paddling.
• ✓The yellow school bus became standardized after a 1939 conference led by Dr. Frank Cyr established the iconic 'National School Bus Glossy Yellow' color. By the 1950s, the yellow school bus was a fixture of American life.
• ✓Metal lunchboxes, usually decorated with popular TV shows or cartoon characters, were the standard in the 1950s and 1960s. They came with a matching thermos and are now valuable collectibles.