The first day of school in the 1970s had its on kind of groove. The smell of freshly sharpened pencils, the loud slam of lockers, and the hum of bothersome fluorescent lights set the stage for another year of possibilities. 

Kids showed up in their bell-bottoms and striped tees, sneakers freshly washed from all the summer adventures, or plain shoes polished for the special occasion. 

Book bags were heavy, filled with spiral notebooks, while classroom walls were plastered with bold, colorful posters that felt impossibly modern at the time. 

The excitement mixed with nerves as teachers walked in the classroom, smiles too big, ink almost too fragrant. Here’s a nostalgic look back at what it felt like to kick off the school year in the 1970s.