Kentucky schools are preparing to start sessions again, which means school supplies are on sale all around. Looking at all the new fangled designer backpacks and lap tops; I’m reminded of how different things have become. Back in the 1980s, things were just a lot different, from our notebooks and pens, to the style clothing we wore. Only private schools wore uniforms back then.
Here are 12 nostalgic school supplies from the 1980s:
- Tube Socks
Yowcow Theses were the socks to wear, be it on the ball court or the cheerleading squad. The stripes had to match the outfit too.
- Ruler
Aliexpress Everything mathematical used to be done by hand, including measurements with a ruler for class assignments. That didn’t mean they had to be boring, so neons and sparkly designs were popular.
- School Satchel
GadgetSin A standard rectangular satchel with favored characters or symbols on the side. These were used to carry our books, Trappers, and pencil boxes. They sometimes came with a divider or zippered pocket inside.
- Pencil
Wiki The standard pencil used in school work and testing booklets. They were normally sold in bulk in dark mustard yellow, but for an additional cost, cool designs were available.
- Pencil Sharpener
Glenn These were always located somewhere on the classroom wall, but it was more convenient to carry a personal one in the pencil case. Otherwise, you had to stand in line and if you were last… the teacher might glare at you impatiently.
- Trapper Keeper
Retro51 These bulky plastic covered Tri folders kept all those loose papers, Critter Sitter folders, and school print outs in place.
- Scented Pens
Uniball Blue, black and red became boring when neon pink, orange, yellow, blue, greens and purples appeared. Then the scented ones were invented and nothing else could compare.
- Scented Erasures
Barbest Erasures, like those cool scented pens, came scented. It was so much more fun to erase mistakes when they smelled like fruits. They came in strawberry, lemon, vanilla, grape, blueberry, orange, and more.
- Parachute Pants
NOrmavevintage Crinkly unisex pants that EVERYONE seemed to have at least one pair of.
- Metal Lunchboxes
Wiki These square metal boxes had a multitude of designs ranging from cartoon characters like Josie and the Pussy Cats, Scooby Doo, Barbie, and the Flintstones, to popular television shows, such as Dukes of Hazzard and Donnie and Marie. They usually had a plastic thermos that took up “almost” half the box.
- Critter Sitters
Sprinklepuffs The same paper folders which could be found anywhere, but these had adorable animals on them with different views.
- Aquanet
Space Battle Hair didn’t stay that big naturally…
Yowcow
Theses were the socks to wear, be it on the ball court or the cheerleading squad. The stripes had to match the outfit too.
Aliexpress
Everything mathematical used to be done by hand, including measurements with a ruler for class assignments. That didn’t mean they had to be boring, so neons and sparkly designs were popular.
GadgetSin
A standard rectangular satchel with favored characters or symbols on the side. These were used to carry our books, Trappers, and pencil boxes. They sometimes came with a divider or zippered pocket inside.
Wiki
The standard pencil used in school work and testing booklets. They were normally sold in bulk in dark mustard yellow, but for an additional cost, cool designs were available.
Glenn
These were always located somewhere on the classroom wall, but it was more convenient to carry a personal one in the pencil case. Otherwise, you had to stand in line and if you were last… the teacher might glare at you impatiently.
Retro51
These bulky plastic covered Tri folders kept all those loose papers, Critter Sitter folders, and school print outs in place.
Uniball
Blue, black and red became boring when neon pink, orange, yellow, blue, greens and purples appeared. Then the scented ones were invented and nothing else could compare.
Barbest
Erasures, like those cool scented pens, came scented. It was so much more fun to erase mistakes when they smelled like fruits. They came in strawberry, lemon, vanilla, grape, blueberry, orange, and more.
NOrmavevintage
Crinkly unisex pants that EVERYONE seemed to have at least one pair of.
Wiki
These square metal boxes had a multitude of designs ranging from cartoon characters like Josie and the Pussy Cats, Scooby Doo, Barbie, and the Flintstones, to popular television shows, such as Dukes of Hazzard and Donnie and Marie. They usually had a plastic thermos that took up “almost” half the box.
Sprinklepuffs
The same paper folders which could be found anywhere, but these had adorable animals on them with different views.
Space Battle
Hair didn’t stay that big naturally…
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