First Day of School Traditions in the US in the Past 100 Years
The first day of school traditions of the past 100 years have been a fun way for families to experience the first day of school. When I was growing up, my first day of school traditions included wearing my new clothes, new shoes, and gathering my new backpack and school supplies. However, we as a family did not do anything else to celebrate the first day of school. I have heard stories from friends that their first day of school traditions included a photo taken by their parents before they left the house, or coming home from school to a tray of assorted cookies as their parents eagerly waited to hear all about their first day of school.
First Day of School Traditions of the Past 100 Years, By Decade
The first day of school traditions of the past 100 years are broken up by decade, beginning in the 1920s and ending in the 2010s. A small overview of the decade will come first, followed by a brief synopsis of generalized traditions throughout that decade.
First Day of School Traditions of the 1920s
Decade Overview
Most American children had morning chores to do before going off to school. The first day of school in the 1920s would have begun by having breakfast and completing morning chores. By the 1920s, only a few states offered school lunch for students. The majority of students took a packed lunch to school. During this decade, it became illegal for children ages 8-14 to be out of school. Parents would have purchased new clothes for the school year, though socioeconomic status dictated whether the clothes were formal or informal. Many families utilized second-hand offerings and hand-me-downs.
There were more school-aged children because of the baby boom at the end of the First World War. Girls were allowed to be in school, but the subjects taught could be different for each gender. On a higher education level, more women were enrolled in college, although the colleges were largely separated by gender. Women’s colleges were already established during the 1920s.
Traditions
The first day of school traditions of the 1920s would have meant that children ages 8-14 woke up, performed their morning chores, and had breakfast. They would have then gotten dressed in their new clothes and walked to school with their packed lunches.
First Day of School Traditions of the 1930s
Decade Overview
Shaped by the Great Depression, the 1930s school experience changed from the previous decade. A lot of schools closed down, especially in rural areas around the country, as many as 20,000 schools by some counts. Children who did attend school would have morning chores to do, even on their first day of school. Without public transportation, children were still having to walk to and from school, regardless of their school’s proximity to their homes. Parents agreed that homework was child labor. With cutbacks due to the Great Depression, schools closed while class sizes increased. Many students did not go further than 8th or 9th grade when they were mostly 14 years old. School lunch programs were gaining funding because the Great Depression highlighted the need for students to have access to food.
Traditions
The first day of school traditions of the 1930s would have included waking up to morning chores for students who lived in rural environments, urban dwelling students would have woken up and perhaps had different kinds of chores. Students would get dressed in their new school clothes, if they had any new clothes, and had whatever breakfast they could have, before walking to school with some sort of packed lunch if they had food at home.
First Day of School Traditions of the 1940s
Decade Overview
School lunches were finally provided to students starting in 1946. Segregation in the 1940s was legal. World War II helped shape the education system in the 1940s towards better organization and access to new funding. Most class sizes were still massive, with some classrooms across the country having upwards of 50 students. Students would line up before school by grade level and gender. Students participated in air raid drills and fire drills during this time.
Traditions
The first day of school traditions of the 1940s included much of the same traditions of the 1930s. Just like the 1930s, students would have new clothes either from a store or secondhand. Students who walked to school would go home for lunch.
First Day of School Traditions of the 1950s
Decade Overview
Many students still brought lunch to school from home. Class sizes were beginning to decrease. In addition to previous school drills, schools also added duck-and-cover drills. The first day of school typically started after Labor Day. Students to be in school until age 16.
Traditions
The first day of school traditions of the 1950s included wearing new school clothes, walking to school, and having milk at school that was delivered by the milkman. Milk was sometimes free, and sometimes would be paid for by parents. Students who walked to school would also walk home.
First Day of School Traditions of the 1960s
Decade Overview
Schools began offering breakfast for students in the mid-1960s. Students could now leave for school a little earlier because they could have breakfast at school. Morning prayers were taken out of schools in the 1960s, though most schools continued reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Many schools were still segregated. The civil rights movement and women’s rights movement were in full swing, as well as the Vietnam War. Schools began the desegregation process. It was generally expected for wealthy and middle class students to graduate from high school.
Traditions
The first day of school traditions of the 1960s included worry about being away from home, new clothes, and new school supplies. Many students started staying in school for the school day, even if they had walked to school. This meant that students did not walk home for lunch but many students had new lunchboxes to use.
First Day of School Traditions of the 1970s
Decade Overview
Many students openly protested against the Vietnam War. More girls were starting to wear pants to school, although this sometimes went against the dress code. This was influenced by the attention towards the women’s rights movements. In 1974, women could open a bank account and apply for credit on their own without the approval or signature of their husbands. This was, however, allowed in California since 1862.
Traditions
First day of school traditions of the 1970s included wearing new clothes from popular department stores, enjoying a family dinner at home the night before, and preparing their new lunchboxes.
First Day of School Traditions of the 1980s
Decade Overview
New technologies involving computers introduced the computer lab in schools. New education reforms introduced in the 1980s challenged the curriculum and assessments in schools. The use of metal detectors in schools started.
Traditions
The first day of school traditions of the 1980s included wearing new back-to-school clothes, eating a special breakfast to celebrate the first day. Many families also took a first day of school photo before the children left for the day. Time capsules became popular in the 1980s and continue to be popular throughout the 2020s.
First Day of School Traditions of the 1990s
Decade Overview
Metal detectors began popping up in schools as a growing concern for safety increased. Schools had computer labs for students requiring computer access. Classrooms shared television sets. Most classrooms had overhead projectors and chalkboards. Newer schools had whiteboards installed and dedicated classroom televisions. Select public schools forced students to wear school uniforms every day.
Traditions
Students would wear new clothes for their first day. Many teachers utilized ice-breaker activities during the first day. Students knew exactly where to line up on the first day because of the previously posted class lists.
First Day of School Traditions of the 2000s
Decade Overview
Not many homes had computers or home internet with dial-up. If the home did have a computer, then it was the family computer, usually centrally located in the house. Cell phones were slowly growing in popularity by the mid-2000s, phasing out beepers. Essays and reports were done by hand. Schools had a dedicated computer lab where students could go. There was an emphasis on standardized testing, and the beginnings of social media started to emerge.
Traditions
The first day of school traditions of the 2000s included new clothes, a special breakfast, yard signs, car paintings, and first day photos. Once the first day of school ended, some families continued the celebration at home, creating special after-school treats.
First Day of School Traditions of the 2010s
Decade Overview
Once again, new technologies shifted education in schools. Many school districts began using Chromebooks or Apple iPADS in their schools, usually as a class set. As the decade went on, students had their own assigned Chromebook for the school year. Heightened security and safety measures lead to intruder drills and lockdown drills.
Traditions
The first day of school traditions of the 2010s included more elaborately decorated first day photos. Most students had back-to-school clothes, shoes, backpacks, and other school supplies. Families would celebrate after school by having a special dinner, dessert, or family movie or game night.
What We Can Learn From The First Day of School Traditions of the Past 100 Years
Every year students prepare for their first day back at school. While some technologies, transportation, and expectations may change, some things remain the same. Regardless of the year or decade, students still prepare with excitement, worry, and readiness for a new school year. Students in the 2020s prepare for the first day of school by sorting through new clothes, getting the proper books, and working on their chores, connecting them with students in years past. From observing the first day of school traditions of the past 100 years, we learn that some traditions remain the same while new traditions continue to form.
