Things that would be completely un-PC today

[L&Lfan]

we also had an outside smoking area in our high school.

Same here. In South Carolina, I was in high school from 74-78 and we had a smoking area for students. You did have to have a signed parents's permission to be able to use it. And of course, the legal drinking age back then was 18.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

As far as I know, area schools around here say the Pledge of Allegiance, too. Although students can just stand quietly if they want.

 

[sunshinehighway]

Not necessarily un-pc, but not many teachers would appreciate the song I sang at our pre-school graduation.

"Show me the way to go home
I'm tired and I want to go to bed
I had a little drink about an hour ago
And it’s gone right to my head
Everywhere I roam
Over land or sea or foam
You can always hear me singing this song
Said show me the way to go home."

My grandmother always sang it to us with hand motions for "knocking one back" and how it had "gone to our heads" parts. She about died when I jumped up and said I had a song I wanted to sing for everyone! Perfect song for a four year old girl to sing!

That's my favorite scene in Jaws!
Oh but thanks because now I have that song stuck in my head.

 

[pryncess527]

I was tied to my chair when I was in 2nd grade because I wouldn't stay in it. Good times. Not.

Personally, I'm not getting any nostalgic "warm fuzzies" from anyone's un-PC posts. I'm happy there have been changes in our culture and IMO those changes are primarily for the best.

Agreed

Being "PC" gets a lot of criticism, and I understand how some people really push the boundaries, but in general most things I see as being dismissed as "PC" are just being thoughtful of others. I'm not sure how being thoughtful or considerate of others is ever a bad thing.

 

[hsmamato2]

What wouldn't be un-PC today? My kids world is so sanitized compared to my growing up.

exactly

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Yes. The original one.

In the late 1800's, there were two rival pledges. Colonel George Balch's pledge:
"We give our heads and hearts to God and our country; one country, one language, one flag!"

And Christian socialist minister Francis Bellamy's pledge:
"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

In 1923, a committee was formed and Bellamy's was chosen as the official pledge and modified slightly. Although it wasn't officially recognized until 1942.

"Under God" was added in 1954 at the behest of Eisenhower, because of the "RED MENACE!" (OOooooOoooOOoOooOOooooo!)

http://www.ushistory.org/documents/pledge.htm

 

[RedAngie]

I was in high school in the late 70s/early 80s. We had a designated, outdoor smoking area for the high schoolers that was all okay.

We had an indoor student's smoking lounge. You had to have your parents sign a permission slip to use it, so most kids just smoked outside behind the gym.

Gender-specific classes in school. Back in my day, girls were required to take 2 years of Home Ec, where we learned to cook and sew. The boys took "shop", aka Industrial Arts, where they got to do cool woodworking projects and learn basic auto maintenance. You were not allowed to take classes intended for the opposite gender. Now, all kids take a version of each of these in middle school and can take any additional electives they want in MS/HS.

I went to a "new age" junior high school in the early/mid 1970s. Girls were REQUIRED to take Industrial Arts, boys were required to take Home Ec. I thought it was a damn good idea. My father said he was glad he didn't have a son. "No way I'd allow them to turn my son into a sissy." Sure, Dad, let all the boys grow up to be helpless and clueless like you were in the kitchen.

In the '70s when I was in Jr High, aka the most embarrassing time of your life, we were forced to take a shower after every PE class. You had to show a monitor that you'd gotten all wet. Horrible.

Yep, there was a teacher's aide who watched to make sure all the girls took showers after PE in junior high. The boys had the same thing.


As for the Pledge of Allegiance, even in the later 70s we didn't have to stand or say it. The Pledge was recited by some kid in the A.V. Club during the morning homeroom announcements. I'm not even sure if we had flags in the rooms. Maybe a poster of the flag.

 

[RedAngie]

Many films from back then wouldn't fly today. One of them being "Airplane!", which is still very funny but oh so non-PC.

 

[Patch'sD]

Went to Catholic High School. We were allowed to smoke in the Bathrooms, In the Court Yard, and in the Vestibule by the Cafeteria when it was raining or cold outside.

In Catholic Grammar School, we were pretty much physically abused by the nuns and lay teachers. Rulers, Paddles, belts, fists, pulling hair and Verbal Abuse were common through all eight years. All punishment was handed out in the classroom in front of the other students.

other Political Correctness was being allowed at 5 years old to go out and play by yourself for hours at a time. Parents buying you beer at underage. Playing Army in the neighborhood, Calling the enemy Japs and Krouts. At least every ethic group had a negative slang name. Neighborhood was segregated.

 

[mamacatnv]

My kids are almost 10 years apart - DS is 26, DD is 17
Some of the changes I notice from their school years

DS: Born in 1989
Christmas Pageant
Kids made ornaments to take home and put on their Christmas Trees
Easter Break
Christmas Break
No peanut free zones
Homemade snacks were the norm and bake sales were popular
Class B-Day parties included cupcakes
Mother/Child brunch for Mothers Day
Father/Child for Fathers Day
Quarterly conferences w/teacher - kid was not present
Halloween parade complete with costumes
Did not invite the whole class to a party and handed out invites at school
very lax school dress codes

DD: Born in 1998
Holiday show
No ornaments - there is one from her school years and it was when she was in Private K
Spring Break
Winter Break
No Peanuts of any kind, any time, any place (until she got to high school)
Nothing homemade - bake sales became a thing of the past
No class parties
No Parent/Child anything
Conferences became once maybe twice a year with the kid present
Harvest festival, dress as a favorite book character (no skulls, witches, weapons, fake blood etc etc etc....)
No invites can be handed out for a party unless the entire class is invited.
Strict school dress codes, bordering on the ridiculous

 

[Kogo Shuko]

My grandmother used to have this riddle that I thought was just a riddle, until I was told it was actually racist.

"What's round as the moon, black as a coon, and has a tail?" "A frying pan!"

I always thought she was referring to a raccoon. Until I grew up, of course.

:S

In grade 3, our teacher let us watch 'Salem's Lot (the film from 1979). It has a rating of PG, but I don't think you'd ever see THAT played at Halloween in a grade 3 class today! My BF's son tells me what they get to watch, and it's all G rated.

 

[Geoff_M]

Many films from back then wouldn't fly today. One of them being "Airplane!", which is still very funny but oh so non-PC.

Blazing Saddles wins that category, hands down!

 

[Squirlz]

I was in high school in the late 70s/early 80s. We had a designated, outdoor smoking area for the high schoolers that was all okay.

Don't they still have those? Downwind from the Daycare Center of course.

 

[phorsenuf]

Many films from back then wouldn't fly today. One of them being "Airplane!", which is still very funny but oh so non-PC.

I don't know, there are still a lot of non-pc movies being made. Ted and A Million Ways to die in the West come to mind. The latter I could watch every day. Cracks me up every time.

Our local high school had an area called 'the row'. It was where kids went to go get stoned during school. The funny thing was, it was located outside next to the teacher lounge so all the teachers could look out the window and see what students were out there. It was the 70's though so nobody really cared anyways.

 

[Christine]

Don't they still have those? Downwind from the Daycare Center of course.

They didn't by the time my daughter was in high school.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I'm pretty sure that smoking isn't allowed anywhere on school grounds even by adults here.

It isn't here either. But smoking bans aren't all that new. Smoking in the Boys room was released in 1973. That's over 40 years ago.

 

[Land Shark]

I remember in HS everyone carried a knife, most in a pouch on their belts. They weren't considered a "weapon" unless they exceeded 9 inches when open. And if you were found to have one larger than that, they just asked you not to bring it in anymore.

In middle school in mid-80's we drew names to exchange gifts at Christmas and most boys received pocket knives.

 

[CPanther95]

Agreed

Being "PC" gets a lot of criticism, and I understand how some people really push the boundaries, but in general most things I see as being dismissed as "PC" are just being thoughtful of others. I'm not sure how being thoughtful or considerate of others is ever a bad thing.

It's a bad thing when intent is ignored and it is only about the words or language. It's even worse when there's a group that is constantly looking to expand the list of censored words with the sole intent of trying to impact/inconvenience as many people as possible.

We're reaching the point where as long as you use the correct terminology, nobody cares about your true motives.

 

[ronandannette]

It's a bad thing when intent is ignored and it is only about the words or language. It's even worse when there's a group that is constantly looking to expand the list of censored words with the sole intent of trying to impact/inconvenience as many people as possible.

We're reaching the point where as long as you use the correct terminology, nobody cares about your true motives.

Nicely put CPanther! We need a "standing ovation" smilie.

 

[DumboDash2006]

In second grade, we had a sleepover at the teacher's house before summer vacation.

We did the same thing in second grade. And she had a pool and we swam.

When my dd was in kindergarten in 2006 her teacher didn't do a sleepover but had a field trip to her house with swimming, games, a campfire etc. In previous years she hired a lifeguard and allowed four kids in the pool at a time each with a parent. But when dd got to kindergarten the school nixed the pool idea a few months before the party. The kids were so bummed.