I graduated in 1982. I'm actually surprised at the differences in this list.
- Anyone involved in a fight was suspended for 3-4 days, not just the instigator. That was the rule but I can't remember a single fight.
- Discipline was handled by one of the two vice-principals. Essentially, parents were contacted for any disciplinary action.
- Classes started at 7:35 and the school day ended at 2:15, though in my junior year the district almost went broke and dropped one hour of the day. Subsequent threats to discredit the school system by the state reinstated the six hour day.
- Sex-ed was still controversial and required parent approval for each student. It wasn't implemented in my district until a few years after I graduated.
- All of the districts in our area were junior (7,8,9) and Senior high (10,11,12). It was strange, though, that 9th grade (freshman) marks were part of the senior high records.
- In rural areas it is very common to have junior, senior and even grade schools on a single campus. I imagine it simplifies the bus routes.
- I had friends in high school in southern Indiana during the early 1980's and this is one thing that surprised me about schools in farming areas. When the spring hay was ready to be brought in the schools would take a few days off. I guess so many students would be absent that it made more sense to make it official and extend the school year by a few days than to have the low attendance.
