Generally, Catholic schools had pretty harsh rules. Step out of line, and you could easily get spanked. Talking in class could get a smack with a ruler over the palm of the hand. Getting pulled by the ear and sent to the principal’s office was another favorite.
After that, it could be on your knuckles, and quite often it would get even worse. Of course, punishment in today’s schools – even the Catholic ones, looks drastically different.
Rickety Cribs
Aside from the now known fact that babies are not supposed to sleep on their bellies, back then not only were they doing that, but they were also sleeping in unsafe cribs. Slats were placed too far apart from each other, or they were wide enough to get the baby's head stuck! Thank heavens for today's regulations.
On some occasions, their little fingers would get stuck too. It took a series of tragedies for the manufactures to pick up on their clues. Soon after that, many new regulations that are now normal were introduced.
Candy Store Hangouts
At one time, candy stores for kids were like bars for adults. Kids would hop on and line up at the counters, with lollipops in hand. This was also when candies were so cheap back then, that kids could guzzle up sugar-loaded sodas and egg cream for a nickel.
Kids were often seen sneaking in brown paper bags full of gummy bears, bubblegum, candy canes and much, much more. Of course, sometimes they would get caught by mom. At least they got to run around back then!
Pox Parties
Before vaccines came around, kids had to be intentionally exposed to a slew of infectious diseases. Most commonly, these 'parties' were held for Chicken Pox and Measles, sometimes Mumps and Rubella were thrown in there too for good measure.
People saw it as inevitable, and just did what they could to 'get it over with'. Fortunately, kids recovered quickly and developed immunities. At least we have vaccines now. They have helped a lot.
Girls Would Damage Their Hair
Painful hair rollers, peroxide that would burn the scalp and dry out hair, and even actual irons that you would use for your clothes. These were the things that girls would use for their precious hair.
Hairstyling for women sometimes resembled medieval torture methods. The term "beauty is pain" was in use then more than ever.