Everyone In Kentucky Remembers These 12 Things In School
By Jenn Shockley|Published July 20, 2015
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Jenn Shockley
Author
I am somewhat a cliche'. I grew up running around barefoot on a farm in Kentucky.
I love writing, art, sunshine, all animals and my incredibly patient husband, who tolerates my "crazy animal lady" side.
Kentucky schools are preparing to start sessions again, which means school supplies are on sale all around. Looking at all the new fangled designer backpacks and lap tops; I’m reminded of how different things have become. Back in the 1980s, things were just a lot different, from our notebooks and pens, to the style clothing we wore. Only private schools wore uniforms back then.
Here are 12 nostalgic school supplies from the 1980s:
Everything mathematical used to be done by hand, including measurements with a ruler for class assignments. That didn’t mean they had to be boring, so neons and sparkly designs were popular.
A standard rectangular satchel with favored characters or symbols on the side. These were used to carry our books, Trappers, and pencil boxes. They sometimes came with a divider or zippered pocket inside.
The standard pencil used in school work and testing booklets. They were normally sold in bulk in dark mustard yellow, but for an additional cost, cool designs were available.
These were always located somewhere on the classroom wall, but it was more convenient to carry a personal one in the pencil case. Otherwise, you had to stand in line and if you were last… the teacher might glare at you impatiently.
Blue, black and red became boring when neon pink, orange, yellow, blue, greens and purples appeared. Then the scented ones were invented and nothing else could compare.
Erasures, like those cool scented pens, came scented. It was so much more fun to erase mistakes when they smelled like fruits. They came in strawberry, lemon, vanilla, grape, blueberry, orange, and more.
These square metal boxes had a multitude of designs ranging from cartoon characters like Josie and the Pussy Cats, Scooby Doo, Barbie, and the Flintstones, to popular television shows, such as Dukes of Hazzard and Donnie and Marie. They usually had a plastic thermos that took up "almost" half the box.
Many of these items can be found today on Ebay, Amazon or Etsy, but not in a local department store. Modern kids use backpacks with laptops, tablets, or some type of electronic replacement. Homemade lunches are often forgotten in favor of things like McDonalds, school meals, or a Snackables of some type. If you grew up in the 70s and 80s, you will likely relate to something on this list. Please feel free to share any other school supplies you remember from your youth in the comments below.
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