Blast From The Past

Recently I ran across a story slide show written by Barrie Davenport entitled 12 Things Boomers Learned In School That Are Totally Irrelevant Today.  Of course I was intrigued. He offered wonderful descriptions, but I will just offer you the basics as I am certain that you have your own memories of every item on the list.  I will put my own thoughts/memories in parentheses next to each item. Please feel free to share yours if you are so inclined.  Would love to hear from you.

1. Cursive (Use your whole arm, not just your fingers.  Make those ovals -- round, and round. I can hear the teacher's voice in my head.)
2. How to use a slide rule (I cried more over math issues than I did about boys when I was in school.  Still cannot do anything with 9's. Failed slide rule. The mere thought of one still gives me the heebie-jeebies.)
3. Typing on a Typewriter (Wish computers were available when I was in school or a young teacher -- although -- it helps develop patience when one has to retype an entire page to get rid of one error.)
4. Diagramming sentences (no comment, but I think I still know how to do this. I know someone who actually likes/liked doing diagramming. We are friends in spite of this.)
5. Home Economics (no comment - other than I also know a person who still uses individual envelopes for budgeting -- not the same person who likes diagramming sentences.)
6. Memorizing State Capitals (I still try to recall them once in a while. I cannot, but my grandkids area able to fill in the blanks.)
7. Balancing a checkbook (I am still compulsive about doing this.  Not sure I understand why.)
8. Spelling Bee (I was always impressed with people who could spell.  Still am. I am not a good speller, but am a whiz with spell check.)
9. Dewey Decimal System (I loved the little wooden card holding drawers.)
10. Reciting poetry by heart. (I can still recite most of "Little Orphant Annie" that I learned in 5th grade.  I used to recite it to my grandkids when they were wee ones.)
11. Mastering penmanship (Never did learn that.)
12. Preparing for nuclear war drills (I never did understand how crawling under a desk or crouching in a hallway with a book over your head would do the trick.)

Shared memories for sure.