A Day in the Life of a Teacher (1988)

This documentary follows one day in the life of an elementary school teacher on the job. Provides a behind-the-scenes look at the typical in-class and out of class activities. Commissioned by the Kansas City Missouri School District and telecast over cable. Circulated on VHS by the Kansas City, Missouri Public Library.
Notable technically for being the very first professional production to be shot in the Midwest using the then-new consumer camcorder format of S-VHS rather than the more obtrusive Betacam and U-Matic equipment packages. This allowed me to work alone with the least distraction to the classroom setting.
This was a "fly on the wall" approach and a harbinger of "reality TV" technique. A shameful attempt to replicate the Fredrick Wiseman documentary look, but clearly without its non-intrusive objective purity. The kids were just too well-behaved (but they did start acting "natural" by the end of the day).
Although intended to be a consumer video format, S-VHS was mostly ignored by the home market and was instead adopted a few years later by video professionals for industrial and broadcast use. Odd.
Screenings:
University Film and Video Association
Ithaca, New York, U S A
June 1990 (Film Festival).
ITVA (International Television Association) Chapter Video Festival
Award of Merit in Public Service/Public Relations Category
Kansas City, Missouri, U S A
December 1988 (Film Festival)
American Cablevision Annual Festival
American Cablevision community programming award
Kansas City, Missouri, U S A
May 1988 (Cable/Satellite)
North America PREMIERE

[@rogosobe]

I have been a university professor for 30 years. I am amazed to see how well-behaved were students in this video. I hope that teacher is still alive, in good health and enjoying her retirement as she deserves.

[@moseschrute]

Crazy that the 80s were nearly 40 years ago and this teacher is likely retired or nearing retirement age today

[@lea-rw5cb]

Yes but look at the discipline in this class can we say the primary school classes are this quiet now?

[@rsuriyop]

She looks like she could be about 26 to 30 here. So you’re probably right. I tried looking up some of my own elementary school teachers from around this time and apparently a few of them had already passed away.

[@sandygrimes7196]

I graduated in 86’ and I loved these days, most of the teachers I had were great, we respected them, we knew how to write in cursive, talked to each other, wouldn’t trade those days for now..🙂

[@christianpatriot7196]

I was in the fifth grade in 88 and I can still remember using actual chalk boards and yes we learned cursive and the 80s were awesome

[@beyonder22]

What? Don't you guys write in cursive these days? I'm from Brazil and we can write normally.

[@sandygrimes7196]

@Beyonder sadly they are doing away with it, kids stick to typing or manuscript

[@mannyistheman2221]

I remember going elementary school during these days

[@markhernandez8361]

In 1988, I was in kindergarten, 6 years old, yeah there was some level of respect you had towards teachers and adults in general at least when you never to press the envelope.

[@KateTheSleepyTeacher]

It’s crazy to see how little daily and student interruptions she dealt with. It’s not like that anymore. I remember those days

[@OanhSchlesinger]

Passing notes to our friends that’s what I remember. Questions with yes / no boxes. Ha. I should have paid more attention in class 😕

[@Rarel71]

Fr

[@jjrocks9960]

Eh it probably would get chaotic but they knew they was on camera so they had to act right but at least they had some sort of etiquette compared to students now unfortunately

[@MusicMike512]

Imagine someone telling her that in about 35 years, this documentary would be viewed over 50 thousand times on something called the internet.

[@g_men2121]

I was in 4th grade in the 2011-2012 and the way I remember my teacher doing class is similar and different. The lining up in boy and girl rows were the same, quiet in halls were the same. Brings me back to those days. Miss them.

[@okjeffy6581]

And I was in 4th grade during the 2005-2006 year, but it was way different.

[@thatgirlshae6913]

@G Men2121 we’re the same age . Lol

[@dinleho]

oh wow I was in kindergarten

[@ryanchow2165]

I became a teacher after watching this in High School. Love my job.

[@jaquen1977]

That’s incredible! Congratulations!

[@ryanchow2165]

Thank you

[@HelloooThere]

your first mistake lol

[@ryanchow2165]

@@HelloooThere true to a degree

[@HelloooThere]

@@ryanchow2165 I see what you did there lol

[@lemonhead162]

My freshman year of high school was in 1988! What a time to be a kid!!!

[@SJHFoto]

You'd be a year older than I. I was going into grade 8

[@candysmith8724]

I was a freshman in '88 also!

[@rsuriyop]

I was a grade schooler myself around this time. And this is pretty much how I remember everything looking. Even that teacher shared a very similar look and style like a couple of teachers who I remember way back then. It’s amazing how time flies. I’m almost 43 now and still can’t come to grips with that reality. 😩

[@thejosephchrist]

Same. I was 11 in 1988 and this is pretty much it. We were probably a tad more rambunctious but not much.

[@heavanjohnson9414]

wow looking back this was a era of love and happiness now you can't even go out

[@aexhausting8218]

Heavan Johnson ?????? People still have love and happiness and kids are always outside.

[@jaquen1977]

This guy prophesied Covid.

[@pacmeister8961]

@@jaquen1977 i was just thinking that 😭😭

[@mr.hedgehog420]

@@jaquen1977 yep

[@Heyabbott24]

Retired/rehired teacher here starting year 31. I graduated high school in 1988. This was awesome to watch! Great young teacher!

[@EyesopentotruthII]

'88 grad also. No one acted up in class back then. We knew respect.

[@hellscream46]

This brings me back to 2nd grade in 1998. Ahh the simple days. But our desks weren't spaced apart like it was here. From K through 6th, our desks were always joined together in rows or groups.

[@marcryan1974]

She is a wonderful teacher ✅

[@toycop6279]

I went to school in the 80s and 90s and watching this video really brings it back. I still remember my teachers from elementary school, every one of them. That’s how much of an impact teachers of this caliber had on us. Not taking away anything from teachers today. School just isn’t the same anymore. I have school age children and they have had their struggles and don’t have the same energy and enthusiasm that I had about school. School was so much fun when I went and i have so many fond memories that I will always hold dear to me. I still communicate with some of my friends from back then today. It’s so sad that school today isn’t the same. The kids aren’t even the same. So sad.

[@mariekatherine5238]

I can relate! Taught grades K-4, Resource Room, in schools everywhere from NYC inner city to a one-room school grades 1-7 in Appalachia. Retired at 67, was bored, returned as English language teacher/tutor in September. Still love it!

[@mgaspar98]

I would love to interview these children today to hear their take on their school experience and see where they are now. With such a diverse classroom, and all the students obviously learning and achieving, let's discuss what has led to the modern classroom experience. I feel so fortunate to have been a student in the 60's-80. She is marvelous!

[@shocker0]

As a lefty, holy crap I noticed this class has a ton of left handed kids compared to the national average

[@moseschrute]

As a fellow Southpaw do you remember those big ugly “Lefty” scissors? Ah the 80s

[@TimeCapsuleClips530]

5:14 Love that old diesel clatter

[@cozycatcorner7724]

I'd like to know where Michelle is now & how she's doing! I LOVE this video, what I wouldn't give to step back in time! This was a few years before I was born, I grew up in the 90s/early 2000s. I remember my elementary school still being similar to this, we even had those desks still until 6th grade they had modern ones for that time period. Technology was becoming popular but it hadn't entirely taken over like now. You didn't see kids walking around glued to their devices like they are now. I'm grateful that a lot of my childhood wasn't over shadowed by technology. It's both a blessing and a curse. Miss the good old days! Where people spent time with each other without staring at their phone. ❤

[@jonnykaykorn3060]

I was 2 years from being born, but I can relate to these cats. 90sZearly 00s elementary wasn't different except for better computers and internet access.

[@sarahbearah1993]

Awe I just love this!!

[@CherryFrog321]

Those kids would all be in their early 40s now. 😭

[@bccvc7370]

They would be like 36

[@CherryFrog321]

@@bccvc7370 this was filmed in 1988 and the kids were in 4th grade (9-10 years old) at the time. They were likely born somewhere around 1977-1979.

[@sylvialupehernandez9154]

Xennials 1977-1984.

[@StringBeanSimsYT]

I’ll be 43 and I was one grade lower than these kids.

[@rizalukman7982]

Thank you for the video.I have just found out that student in America has already had full day school in 1988.

[@MarisaArtLA]

Great story! :)

[@idkimsleepy08]

its crazy to think about staying in one classroom again when I was in 4th grade I was already switching classes.

[@rhowell0317]

I remember my elementary school days of being in the principal's office!

[@candysmith8724]

Back when we learned cursive before 3rd grade. My kids can't even write in cursive in HS. I had to teach them at home to create their signatures in cursive. I love the books and I did see one little girl have the Trapper!

[@lea-rw5cb]

Most kids can't even tie their shoe laces by 10. Now, what has happened?

[@James-fl5pu]

Am I the only one that noticed the ashtray at the teachers lunch table

[@Starry_Night_Sky7455]

For real? Oh nooooo! Nooooo!

[@randallkern9564]

Born in '79 and this could easily have been my classmates and I. I know every generation thinks this way, but, boy, we had it made. Seemed like we had time for everything, fun at school, sports, playing outside, Saturday morning cartoons, video games were taking off and family tv time at night.

[@allenmerice2356]

As a Gen Z who wants to go back to the 80s The school in the 80s was very different from when I was a child We had LCD screens I thought that schools in the 80s would have a TV to play slides in every class, but in the 80s there was only a blackboard To me it's acceptable After all I think the generation without mobile phones and the Internet is really happiness Since a few years ago I dont use smart phone and never play games I only watch videos on YTb and Netflix After back home from sch🤮🤮l and finish my homework This feels great!!!

[@chipichipichapa]

im also a gen z who wants to go back in time to the 80s and i agree so much....

[@mrbajablamps8663]

Let's just make this clear. Gen Z didn't invent social media nor the internet. It wasn't our fault boys 🙏🏻

[@Starry_Night_Sky7455]

You might think this way until the day you must do some sort of lengthy research papers that require several sources. Just think how they had to find material flipping through each and every physical book sourced via the school library. You would be hoping your parents get internet at home when it appears in the 90's, lol. Of course, lacking social media was probably much better for kids. They get to be less glued to screens. I think this particular school in this documentary just didn't have the latest tech. It probably wasn't just blackboards. They had TV's for videos. Computers were already in schools by the early 80's. Over the decade, computer aided instruction became more widespread. You can see that this classroom has a desktop computer. It''s either IBM or Apple. Probably an Apple II E. You might not play games, but Oregon Trail is the 80's computer game to check out. Number Crunchers is another popular game. Even if you don't play games, might as well know of them since they were a thing. Kind of interesting that you're inquisitive enough to watch a documentary like this one.

[@merfwriter]

I was born in 1982 and started 1st grade in 1988-1989.

[@missylou82]

Same here. I did first grade twice, 1988-1989 1989-1990.

[@merfwriter]

@@missylou82 Really? Are you serious? I repeated first grade too! Same years too! Did you graduate high school in 2001?

[@thatgirlshae6913]

These kids are 42-44 years old now

[@overallwellbeingmatters4214]

This is how school was back in the day... Kids were well behaved and had alot of respect for teachers. That's why I learned alot. I was in the 5th grade in 1988.

[@blugreen123]

Teachers really dressed up back then! I can't imagine teaching in those heels all day. 😮 ETA: she changes shoes after lunch. 😂

[@stansmith4054]

Cursive writing!!! Kids today would think it's a different language.

[@nataleeisjustchilling2737]

I’m 16 and I can barely read cursive, we got taught a little cursive in early elementary school but that was it

[@TheGrayton2000]

I'm 27 and a dropout cause of bullying

[@Joshadowolf]

@@TheGrayton2000 You would regret it. Cause your parents never teach you how to be well-behaved or either you didn’t listen. Shame…

[@iloveyouV81]

​@@nataleeisjustchilling2737yeah same the teachers just stopped teaching it when i was in 3rd, 5th grade teacher said she would teach us but never did

[@Infinite0396]

very cool... had a sad dream the other night I was in my 1980's 3rd grade teachers class, she was my favorite teacher and I loved her back then, but in the dream she was being really mean to me, and I was so happy to see the old class but crying because I couldn't understand why she was being so mean-- I interpret this to mean I really miss the warmth of the 80's and don't feel it anymore

[@Sherlock910]

I’m surprised that school started later. Most schools start the day at 8am or 7:55am. Although there is a movement to push school to start later.

[@aliciamodica8217]

I remember back then I was so excited for first day new stuff meeting my classmates recess was the business in 1990 I used to get pulled out now it seems like they let you stay and just work with you a little more

[@sighrissharber4458]

I LOVE the teacher who brought KFC to school

[@blueexorcist3425]

I remember that a teacher from my summer school from fourth grade from 2001 (I was 10 going through 5th grade) brought us Burger King on the last day it was only 5 or 6 students at the time

[@amandap6278]

Beautiful sweet lady with her banana clip and yellow curls. Dressed modestly and professional. No blue hair and nose rings. Down to earth and great with the kids.

[@medoctorvideo]

Merci

[@charliegutierrez3847]

Day In The Life Of A Teacher 33rd Anniversary (1988-2021) (33 Years Ago 2021)

[@theperfectionist]

11:48 - Yup, he's definitely making the NBA.

[@SJHFoto]

I would have been going into grade 8 that year! Hard to believe it was so long ago

[@EyesopentotruthII]

I graduated that year. Geez time flies.

[@victorc5390]

She beautiful & tall. But she looks strict like she don’t play that bullying shit.

[@charliegutierrez3847]

Elementary School 33rd Anniversary (1988-2021)

[@okjeffy6581]

Well this videos 10th anniversary

[@beyonder22]

Engraçado que as carteiras e as mesas das salas de aula dos Estados Unidos nos anos 1980 são melhores que as nossas, aqui no Brasil, em 2023. Aqui, muitas vezes, a salas têm nem tamanho. Tanto que temos que juntar as mesas pra ter espaço. Espero que nossa educação consiga ter um melhor investimento.

[@paulines581]

You're probably very right. Not an incorrect assessment at all.

[@bk_goatkim679]

So weird not seeing computers ngl…I started kindergarten when active boards and that stuff just started being a thing in 2011

[@joaopedrogomes6045]

33 Years Later

[@mannyistheman2221]

I was an elementary school from 1984 until 1993. I was 7 years old in 1988.

[@thenewbgamer6416]

Man, I wish I was in school during this time period, I at least wouldn't have the distraction of a phone.

[@EddieDisneyTheFansAndFriends2]

34 Years Later

[@yeaitsGod]

Kings

[@im2sxc4yall]

I wish I was a kid in school again, haha!

[@peter-jamesmmbago8721]

I was in nursery in 88 and my wife bless her was just born..

[@GenX-RadRat]

Question: I was born January 4th 1978 and entered the school system in 1983 (I think). Doesn’t that put me in 4th grade in 1988 at age 10? Or am I off a bit? Can’t remember!

[@elanahochbaum9129]

Yeah I think you're right

[@jaquen1977]

I’m a little over 1.5 years younger than you, but only a grade behind. I was in 4th grade in 88-89, so you were 87-88.

[@GenX-RadRat]

jaquen1977 I think you’re right. My mother said I entered the school system in the fall of 1982.

[@CherryFrog321]

1987-1988 school year you would have been in 4th grade. 1988-1989 you would have been in 5th grade.

[@okjeffy6581]

4th grade was the worst grade for me to be honest. I started on September 2005, and ended it on June 2006. And it was the grade I got bad luck.. FOA, I was just scared to stay in class, SOA, I always said that there was nothing wrong with me when there was clearly a problem with me, TOA, I always tried to be good in class but keep failing at it. 4th, I was always making up these “Cartoon Network” shows like something that I come up with in my head rather or simply just a cartoon from another channel, hell sometimes I would just make one slip-up and I am already in trouble. Like I once forgot my lunch bag in the gym, and my teacher came with it and was mad at me. And also I remember trying to make 4th grade be like 2nd grade because I just loved that grade back then. So half the time I would be trying to relive it again and have everything be a repeat of that grade, but they always had different plans in that year so I failed miserably. Sometimes I would even try doing things that I did before but nothing was working and it always made things worse. But I never gave up and just kept trying when there was clearly no point in doing so. It was the worst grade of my life.

[@stephaniemaldonado2100]

Elementary School 33 Years Ago (1988) (1988-2021)

[@EddieDisneyTheFansAndFriends2]

34th Anniversary (1988-2022)

[@Kayleyworldwithcerebralpalsy]

One thing I have to say is that it was interesting but at the sametime boreding it was interesting to see how teachers teach back than compared today but it was kinda boring because a lot of the activities didn't seen fun and alot of the times the children were sitting at their desk well behavior and at the same time not being Kids learning should be interesting and fun and I didn't really see that beside when they were doing math and learning about Dinosaurs

[@missylou82]

I was in the 1st grade in 1988-1989 and did 1st grade again in 1989-1990. I fail first grade the first time.

[@kbaby1221]

Hello, what semester (1st or 2nd) was this in 1988?

[@medoctorvideo]

Kelly B This is a regular full school year class, August to May.

[@kbaby1221]

Within this particular school year, where the students in their first semester (August-December) or second semester (January-May)?

[@medoctorvideo]

Kelly B April

[@LaurenEveCreates]

Tailsland said he was about in Shelley Hale's stomach when she was 6 months pregnant in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

[@rjking8986]

No iphones yet or the internet. still they are active and happy

[@Kayleyworldwithcerebralpalsy]

I got a question is the teacher in this video Michelle D. Mcbee is she still a live and if so do what she is doing today is she still teaching?

[@jaquen1977]

I don’t know. But she looks pretty young here and has only been teaching 3 years. There’s a chance she’s still just in her 50s. Could definitely still be teaching.

[@CherryFrog321]

This was just a little over 30 years ago and she wasn't that old then. So I'd assume she's most likely still alive. She may or may not have retired from teaching by now though.

[@anderson74]

She looks like she would be in her mid 20s so she would be in her 60s right now

[@kennawhitty5884]

@@anderson74 More like 57

[@stephaniemaldonado2100]

33 Years Ago (1988)

[@yeaitsGod]

treat us right

[@xan8123]

real

[@vibesgaming2875]

These kids are now like 36 now 😮

[@LaurenEveCreates]

What grade is she teaching in 1988?

[@medoctorvideo]

TailslandComedian Remastered 4th grade

[@HelloooThere]

Grade 14

[@King5150Ed]

"Spell, bunt"

[@xCookieNationx]

My mom was a her kids in her school 🏫😍80s kids

[@jamarconway4459]

I am currently a fifth grade teacher at the middle school level but next quarter I'm going down to teaching first grade

[@StringBeanSimsYT]

Second and third grade for me in 88. I’d like to know where this teacher is today.

[@rhetthart9311]

Bruh her hand writing is A game

[@tammiewillard6788]

Trapper Keepers tho lol

[@EddieDisneyTheFansAndFriends2]

34 Years Ago

[@mrbajablamps8663]

I was born in 1998 and i was 10 below zero years old when this was filmed.

[@EddieDisneyTheFansAndFriends]

I Was Getting Really Old In 1988 I When To Work In High School Not Elementary School Or Middle School I Graduation In Elementary School Middle School & High School In Long Time Ago

[@booberfeldt5566]

I was in 1st grade in fall 1988 !

[@sighrissharber4458]

This could have taken place on a Tuesday?

[@EddieDisneyTheFansAndFriends]

I When To Work In School My First Time In September (1969) In (1988) I Went To Work In School For 7 Hours

[@EddieDisneyTheYouTuberFa-mo8vz]

4:30 (8:42 AM) School Bus Comes

[@joaopedrogomes6045]

School Over At 3:30 PM

[@yeaitsGod]

free for life

[@emmagutierrez8810]

Those One Students Are Turning 9 Years Old Or 10 Years Old Back In 1988

[@sighrissharber4458]

This was at Melcher Elementary, correct?

[@medoctorvideo]

yes

[@sighrissharber4458]

@@medoctorvideo And you did know Ms. McBee before she came to Melcher?

[@marquiser12]

I used to go to melcher as a kid .. we were wearing uniforms though

[@josephwright1519]

This woman is 60 years old now.

[@JunaidWolf3]

It’s really unfortunate they don’t teach script anymore it’s really helpful expecally for me who gets letters mixed up

[@reesetube]

They do in my elementary school, all the parents got surprised finding out they taught it….

[@candysmith8724]

Script LOL that's a font! Lawrd! The writing is called cursive.

[@joaopedrogomes6045]

School Starts At 8:45 AM

[@Lalalalaurajazmin]

They didn’t have to think about before and aftercare programs😅

[@EddieDisneyTheFansAndFriends]

I Was Born In Alabama In United States I Was In 4th Grade When I Was 9 & 10 Years Old

[@EddieDisneyTheFansAndFriends]

I Went To Go To High School In (1988) I Don't Go To Elementary School Or Middle School In (1988)

[@EddieDisneyTheYouTuberFansChan]

Those Students Are In 4th Grade Class Of (1987-1988) Students Were Born In Late (1977) Born In Early (1978)

[@topmoments16]

Elementary School (1988)

[@pandaman6634]

I was in the 3rd grade during this time

[@michelfrankaraujo4394]

1988 ..I was 8 years

[@charliegutierrez3847]

4th Grade Class (1988)

[@EddieDisneyTheYouTuberFa-mo8vz]

May 1988

[@yeaitsGod]

protect Christopher Jeibrun Sutton and Jacob Tremblay

[@EddieDisneyTheYouTuberFa-mo8vz]

Class Of 1988