If you were a student back in the ’70s, then you probably still remember how carefree and wild the beginning of school was.
You would arrive early to catch up with your friends, wear your cutest shirt, and spend the whole day talking about what you did during the summer break.
Here are some nostalgic things all students from the ’70s felt and saw during the back-to-school period.
1. First Day Fit: All Flowers, No Stress
In the 1970s, going back to school wasn’t about the newest sneakers or fancy clothes. It was about being comfortable and showing a little personality.
Girls wore flowing skirts, flowered tops, and bell-bottoms that moved with every step. Boys wore shirts with wide collars that were sometimes patterned with bold stripes or checks.
They also wore jeans that flared at the bottom. There was no need to worry about a precisely planned “aesthetic.” You just picked out your favorite shirt, ironed it if your mom told you to, and arrived ready for the day.
The “first day fit” wasn’t so much about stress as it was about showing off who you were, with flowers in your prints and an easy smile to go with them.
2. Bus Rides Were The Real Party
The school bus was where all the fun happened, before you even arrived in the classrooms. The ride was loud and full of laughter, and sometimes it was too crazy for the driver.
There were a lot of kids on board who were excited to be back in school after summer break. The back seats were for the cool kids, the middle seats were for the jokesters who told silly stories, and the front rows were for the quiet kids who wrote in notebooks or talked softly with friends.
Kids weren’t allowed to listen to the radio, but someone would always hum the newest disco or rock song, and everyone on the bus would join in. When you eventually got to school, the energy was already there, and the bus felt like a small party on wheels.
3. Hallway Romance, 70s Edition
The first week back always came with hallway butterflies. A smile at a locker or a quick hello between classes could soon turn into a crush.
Couples went hand in hand down the tiled floors, and their matching denim jackets made it obvious to everyone that they were “a thing.”
People folded notes into complicated triangles and tucked them between textbooks, sending messages of love (or at least a promise to meet near the bleachers after class).
In the 1970s, romance was lovely and innocent. It wasn’t about texting or direct messages; it was about stolen glances and handwritten notes that made your heart race.
4. Teacher Bringing The Style Too
The students made a statement, but they were not the only ones. Teachers in the 1970s had their own style. Male teachers wore sport coats with elbow patches and ties that were too large.
Female teachers wore long skirts or dresses with big jewelry that made noise as they walked around the classroom. Their style was soothing because it was kind, a little strange, and often just as fashionable as what their students wore.
You’d see that your teacher’s wardrobe stated as much about their personality as their lesson plans did when you walked into homeroom on the first day.
5. Squad Goals But Make It 1970s Style
Friend groups of the 1970s had their own beat. The first few days back were all about getting back together with your friends after a long summer apart.
Some groups coordinated their outfits, such as wearing similar denim jackets or shoes of the same design. Others made their presence known by moving together in a loud, laughing group that turned heads as they walked.
Lunch tables were full of groups taking their positions and telling stories about their summer jobs, vacations, or backyard adventures.
Before the term “squad goals” came around, it was mostly about passing around a bag of chips in the cafeteria and telling jokes that made them laugh till their stomachs hurt.
6. Pop Quiz + Bubblegum = Priorities
Someone constantly whispered, “There’s going to be a quiz,” and the whole class groaned in response. But studies weren’t always the most important thing.
It was often more fun to chew gum, draw on the edges of the paper, and trade snacks than to review multiplication tables. Teachers tried to persuade students to focus again by giving them short projects, but students’ minds were still half on summer and half on their social lives.
You could get in trouble for sneaking a bit of gum in class or giving a letter to your closest buddy instead of answering a question on history.
It was a rite of passage to find the right balance between study and fun. The quizzes were important, but bubblegum and friendship always seemed more important at the time.
7. Plaid Skirt + Paperback Vibes
The way school looked in the 1970s was charming in its own way. The hallways looked like they were from an old movie because of the plaid skirts, knee socks, and vests.
Textbooks were heavy, had worn edges, and were carried in backpacks or under people’s arms. And there were paperbacks, of course. Friends would trade dog-eared novels with handwritten messages in the margins or doodling on the covers.
Reading was surely tactile, and you often shared it with others. It was like carrying a piece of someone’s world with you. The plaid-and-paperback attitude typified the decade’s school days: part studious, part trendy, and completely unforgettable.
