When I was a kid

 By Tori Williams
Round Table reporter

When Middletown High School’s social studies teacher William Muldoon was in high school, quite a few things were different. There were many similarities, however, such as school structure, afternoon activities, jobs, licenses, and clothing.

Muldoon wore jeans or khakis and a t-shirt or polo. He would wear sneakers or penny loafers, which was a symbol of that time. In the winter he would add a sweater to his apparel. There were no brands like Old-Navy or Aeropostale. Most of the “cool” or “popular” kids would dress like this.

Females, on the other hand, wore skirts and sweaters or a nice blouse. Not many girls wore pants, but they did wear mini skirts. This is when mini skirts first emerged as a fashion statement. 

The stereotypical nerd was common just like in old movies; he wears big, black-rimmed glasses and a pocket protector and, in extreme cases, carries a briefcase. Muldoon said that there actually were such kids in his school. 

One of the fashion statements Muldoon remembers is a car coat. Car coats were knee-length and had a leather exterior. The inside was lined with sheep skin.

The way people dressed then and how they dress now is similar. Boys wear t-shirts, jeans and sneakers. The only difference is that boys and girls like to wear labels on their clothing that promote the brand. Girls also dress the same as girls from the 1960s. Mini skirts are still a phenomenon.

The differences in school structure are enormous. When Muldoon was in seventh or eighth grade he took an IQ test. The school then placed him in a track based on his scores. Some examples of the school tracks were: academic, secretarial, vocational, and general studies.

In the academic track, students took what are now called honors and advanced placement classes. Students in the academic track took classes to prepare for college. The students didn’t have much choice in their classes like students do now.

In the secretarial track, girls were taught how to work in a business office. In the vocational track, boys would be taught skills to become carpenters. plumbers, electricians, and machinists. Girls were prepared for careers such as nursing or training to become a chef. Then there was a general study, where students learned the basics of most subjects.

This is how “cliques” were decided most of the time. Students hung out with their assigned group. Normally, they didn’t see anyone from a different track unless they were at lunch, when all the tracks would eat together.

An average day of a student was also different than the day of a student of today. For example, they would have what’s called study hall. Students who had a blank block in their schedule would report to the cafeteria for study hall.

Their classes were only 45 minutes long, meaning there were seven or eight in a day, but they met year round. One of the classes was gym and it was taken twice a week for an entire high school education versus our one semester of gym and health class today. 

After school Muldoon went to practice for the various sports he played as many of high school students do now. After practice ended around 5:30 or 6 p.m., Muldoon would go to a local “hang out.”

There would normally be a drive-in restaurant where the waitress would bring the food to the car on roller skates. This sort of a place is much like Sonic now. Muldoon normally would arrive home around 7:30 p.m.

His mother always had a warm dinner waiting for him after his time with his friends. Most moms were stay-at-home-mothers. After Muldoon ate, he would do homework until bed time.

Like now, the Friday night football games were a big deal. Wrestling was also a popular sport to watch. Another popular activity was school dances, especially if one had a date.

Normally students, specifically the academic students, didn’t have jobs. They focused on their studies. No jobs that meant no cars so teenagers had to ask their parents for rides.

Teenagers today all have, or are going to, take the permit test. Nowadays, teens have to wait nine months before they can get a license. When Muldoon took the test, he got his permit on a Tuesday and his license the next day on a Wednesday.

As time passes, fads and traditions come and go like the tides of the ocean. One day something is cool to wear or do and the next day it’s not. Cleary, things change as time goes by.