SCHOOL: “School days, school days, dear old Golden Rule days…” the song says.

We’re sure you remember your own school days, and all that’s different now. Here’s a look even further back than memories go, with the help of Mental Floss and Reader’s Digest.

A century ago, school looked a lot different than it does now. Often it was a one-room schoolhouse with students of every grade taught by one teacher, usually a woman. The curriculum was primarily focused on basic subjects like reading, writing, arithmetic, with some history and geography.

There were no school resource officers. Society was different then, with a “spare the rod, spoil the child” view of discipline. In the classroom, there was corporal punishment — often with a paddle on display in a prominent place.

Teachers were known to strike a child’s knuckles with a ruler along with other punishments, like writing a phrase repeatedly. At times, students were made to sit in the corner and wear a “dunce cap.” Obedience and respect for authority were stressed.

Not all children had equal access to schooling, depending on their background, gender and race. Girls were pushed toward home economics and classes that focused on domestic skills.

The schooling that was available was mostly memorization, and not critical thinking.

And the 180-day school year was certainly not in effect, as children were expected to work to help support the family. Farming, family businesses, or working in mines, mills or factories were common for children, and schooling was less important.

Most children only went to school long enough to learn reading, writing and basic math. Attendance in high school was very low.

The average school year was 151 days, shortened because of the need for children to work at family farms in the spring and fall.