compare + contrast life from 1950's to life today?

Question

anything will help

anything will help,looking more for compare

Answer 1

I also grew up in the 50s (white, middle class). Here are some of what I see as differences.

Community:
There was more of a sense of community. You knew your neighbors. Kids could wander around the neighborhood unsupervised. Doors were not locked. Most mothers were home.
On the other hand, there was no diversity. There were no blacks and few Jews at my elementary and middle school. There was one black in my senior class at high school. "Strangers" in the neighborhood were suspect. Note that I grew up in suburban Northern Virginia, less than 10 miles from the center of D.C.

Schools:
Schools were about the same as far as curriculum. What was different was discipline, testing, and the technology. As far as discipline, teachers could grab and even hit kids. Standardized testing was almost non-existent (at least until you were applying for college) and testing in general was much less important. Most grades were based on project (essays, etc.) rather than tests. There were, of course, no computers and, as a result, penmanship was stressed. We had filmstrips (which is not that much different than PowerPoint presentations), and occasional educational movies but most of the work was done interactively between the teacher and students and on the blackboard with chalk (as opposed to the whiteboard with markers). Still, there's not a lot of difference (and I speak based on the fact that my son is going to the same high school I went to).

Family:
Families tended to do things together, in part because there tended to be only one car and one television. Television (in my area) had three networks (NBC, ABC, and CBS) one independent station and one public broadcasting station and was a part of family life. The family would all sit down to watch the shows. A significant percentage of the entire country (and your friends) would be watching a popular show (percentage wise, far greater than American Idol or any other hits) and they would watch it at the same time since there were no VCRs, much less Tivo. Board and card games had a bigger role than they do now. Music was about as important then as now. Small records called 45s served the same function as downloads. They were cheap, had two songs (one on each side) and were collected and traded by kids. One thing that has definitely changed for the better is the idea of punishment. Spanking was considered the moderate norm when I grew up and being beaten with a stick would have not raised an eyebrow.

Technology:
Computers were reserved for major businesses and the government. The weren't anywhere near as powerful as the PC I'm typing this on. Cars were bigger, less fuel efficient, and had no seatbelts or airbags. Airplanes were expensive but if you did get to fly, it was a luxurious experience. Telephones were all wired to a wall - you actually moved a dial to "dial" a number. For long distance you would go through a person known as a operator. Operators also provided information (like 411) and would notify the police in an emergency (like 911).

The World:
In the 50s Communists were the enemy rather than terrorists. The Korean War represented a traditional war with armies shooting at each other for years and an actual "front" which divided our armies from theirs and which moved back and forth as each side gained the advantage. The overarching fear was of a nuclear war. Some people built bomb shelters and all the schools had stocks of civil defense supplies in their basements. Students also went through "duck and cover" drills where we were taught to duck under our desks if we saw the flash of a nuclear bomb. Even then, it seemed rather stupid to us. Other than that, security was a non-issue. You could walk through the White House on a tour just by showing up at the gate, no one wore a photo ID around their neck, there were no metal detectors or x-ray machines in buildings or airports. (Although, in a side note, there were x-ray machines in some shoe stores that you could use to check if your shoes fit - a cool concept but later banned by the FDA because of radiation concerns)

Misconceptions:
Just looking at some of the other answers, I think that for most suburbs, some of the comments are a bit extreme. I don't know of anybody who had an outhouse. Even my grandparents who were both farmers had inside plumbing. Jobs might not have paid as much but things didn't cost as much. I don't know that the standard of living for the middle class has gone up that much. Transportation was slower but I wouldn't call it bad. Highways were much less congested, trains and buses were much more available. And despite one or your respondent's comments, I wouldn't have shown up with a rifle at school.

Lastly:
Just so you know it never changes, our parents were as stupid and unreasonable as your parents.

Good luck.

Answer 2

With every day pass, our country is getting into more and more trouble. The inflation, unemployment and falling value of dollar are the main concern for our Government but authorities are just sleeping, they don’t want to face the fact. Media is also involve in it, they are force to stop showing the real economic situation to the people. I start getting more concern about my future as well as my family after watching the response of our Government for the people that affected by hurricane Katrina.

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Answer 3

I was born in 1957. My mom stayed home with us until we started school. There was less crime then. I personally think much of the crime increase was due to the '60s, even though I think it was a good thing that had to happen, people became more selfish and divided. People have been doing drugs since the native Americans introduced peyote to the Pilgrims. My dad was abusive. There has been much more education on the prevention of child abuse. The economy was relatively stable until Bush took us in to the modern 100 years war. I stay home with my kids. They are 14 and 10. They still call me Mommy. Not immature. Just very loved. My parents were teachers. My husband is a computer engineer. We live paycheck to paycheck. My parents did also. They used to borrow money from us. I stopped a lineage of abuse in my family. I love my family and they are the best thing ever to happen in my life.

Answer 4

More mothers were at home with their kids. A lot of people
walked more, and used the car only when they had to. Drugs
were non-existent in most schools. There were still kids
who found a way to get in trouble with alcolhol or skipping
school. Life wasn't as "convenient" as it is today, as far
as making meals (no microwaves) in the kitchen. Kids had
records and record players instead of CD's.

Answer 5

In the 50's a boy could come to school with his rifle in his gun rack and the princpal would go to his truck and get his and they would compare and talk about them. Everyone would go to school and no one was bothered by it.
Today is a kid brings a rifle in thier car. The school is locked down the student is arrested, the car and gun impounded, never to be seen again. The school call in counciler to help the "tramamitized" students.
There is alittle differance.

Answer 6

You would get the most help from seeing the 50's and judging for yourself... therefore I am sending you back in time. *poof* No just kidding. Download an episode or 2 of The Honeymooner's. That'll do for starters.

Answer 7

Back then: I did not know anyone who had divorced parents. I did not know anyone who went to day care. Being physically punished by parents was the norm. We trusted the police. We honored American customs. The world respected us in every way.
Since you're here now and know what's going on, I'm sure you can create some scintillating comparisons that best serve your task's objectives.

Answer 8

3

Answer 9

2

Answer 10

1