"Not Saying It Was A Good Idea, But It Was Fun": Older Adults Are Revealing The Things That Were Weirdly Allowed When They Were In School That Absolutely Would Not Fly Today

If there's one institution that seems to constantly change, it's our school education system. What was allowed when older adults were in school may not be permitted in 2025. So, when Reddit user Independent-Bat9545 asked r/AskOldPeople subreddit: "What is something nobody batted an eye about when you/your kids were in school that wouldn’t fly today?" so many people shared their stories.

Here's what they said below. 1. "Aside from all the corporal punishment, probably the main one would be walking to school alone.



From eight years old and up, I used to walk just under a mile with my brother (two years younger) to school each morning and back in the evening...

" — OldFartWelshman "Same. I live in NYC. This all changed in 1979 when Etan Patz disappeared while walking to school for the first time.

It sent shockwaves through the city, and parents rethought their whole approach to parenting. It became national news and was the beginning of h elicopter parenting ." — Icy_Outside5079 2.

"Indecent assault. I was once suspended for punching a boy who shoved his hand up my dress and hurt me. Now he would be arrested.

" — Restless-J-Con22 "My mom’s proudest kindergarten parent moment is how I was the quiet high achiever in class, but when a boy pulled up my skirt, I punched him in the nose and got sent home from school. My mom gave me ice cream ." — FrauAmarylis 3.

"We had a smoking room for any students over 16 at my high school. Don’t think that would fly today." — DC2LA_NYC "Cigarette companies provided mini-sample packs to our high school.

Had a smoking lounge and a cigarette machine. One of my teachers smoked a pipe while teaching with his feet propped up on the desk. Great teacher regardless!" — Ok-Locksmith891 4.

"Oh yeah. How about anybody being able to just walk into the building unannounced without any security?" — shazaray4691 "Our cafeteria manager did such a good job with the food, locals would actually come in and eat at our cafeteria during lunch." — Kahne_Fan Related: Answer These '80s, '90s, And 2000s Trivia Questions And We'll Guess Your Exact (And I Mean EXACT) Age 5.

"Carrying a pocket knife." — 2x4x93 "How about a gun rack in the rear window of a pickup? That was pretty common where I grew up. " — No_Information_8973 6.

"Showering in the gym as a group." — Factual_Fiction 7. "No homework in kindergarten.

Kindergarten was for play, socialization, and the beginning of learning, colors, letters, and numbers. Today, my granddaughter is in PreK and gets homework every night except weekends, and it's not even real kindergarten yet!" — Icy_Outside5079 8. "For my kids, it was the other way around.

When they were in school, unnatural hair colors and any visible piercings other than ears weren't allowed. Now, they're everywhere." — GeekyGrannyTexas "I dyed my hair purple, just in the front.

God, you’d think I was Sid Vicious. This was 1979. I didn’t get in trouble.

The PE teacher said I did it to get attention, which I thought was funny. I just came back from London, visiting family, and thought, 'Ok, I’m punk now.'" — safeway1472 9.

"Boys take wood shop and girls take sewing and cooking classes." — AmazingGrace_00 10. "When I was in school as a kid? Paddling (spanking with a wooden paddle) happened regularly for all sorts of infractions, including some super trivial ones.

Shouldn't be allowed anywhere." — Beruthiel999 11. "Due to food allergies, my great-granddaughter’s school prohibits a child from bringing birthday cupcakes and cookies.

I brought cupcakes to class for my birthday, so did my kids and grandkids, but now they’re banned." — None "A lot of schools have actually banned home-baked goods due to liability. So now anything you provide for a classroom party has to be store bought so the adults can see the listed ingredients and handle them accordingly.

" — katmio1 12. "Also, although my friends and I were A students, headed to college, we all began to work part time, from about age 13, it was a given, perhaps because our parents had lived through the Great Depression. Baby sitting, mowing lawns, and paper delivery at first.

Then at 16, working at stores, restaurants, lifeguards, etc, in the evenings and weekends, full time in the summer." — Fancy_Locksmith7793 13. "The stuff we had on playgrounds.

See-saws, monkey bars on asphalt. Not saying it was a good idea, but it was fun." — Mor_Tearach "If there wasn't at least a six-foot drop what was the point?" — jxj24 14.

"Climbing ropes over a 2" thick mat on a hardwood gym floor." — Mainiak_Murph "Writing your name on the ceiling after you get to the top." — Over-Policy-5636 15.

"Carrying medications such as Midol, Tylenol, or aspirin, and then sharing them with your friends." — Number-2-Sis "In 2006, I was suspended for three days because I took Motrin from my purse, and someone told on me. Zero tolerance policy and whatnot.

" — etsprout Tell us the thing nobody batted an eye about when you/your kids were in school that wouldn’t fly today in the comments or anoumsly in the Google form below..