Attending high school has been one of the hallmarks of teenagerdom since the 1930s. As a place to socialize high schools were incubation zones for trends, fads, and even entire subcultures. And, back in the 1950s high school curriculum was handled quite differently to today, as were health and safety requirements. Here are 9 photos that show just how different high school was for kids in the 1950s.

Bikes Unchained
Many high schoolers in the 1950s walked to school. Some even rode their bikes, which they left leaned against walls and pillars – free from locks or chains. It was a completely different time to now, when even locked bikes aren’t safe from theives.