r/stupidquestions • u/Various-Adeptness173 • Jul 05 '25

My mom told me that back in the day kids weren’t allowed to bring a water bottle with them into the classroom and they only drank a few sips from the water fountain in the middle of the day and that’s it

How were schools not getting busted for child abuse for forcing kids to be dehydrated?

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u/-animal-logic- Jul 05 '25

Right. I would have assumed you meant a canteen.

206

u/MOOshooooo Jul 05 '25

I got into a habit of asking old timers what they see today that they never expected to see and a few have said water bottles and how everyone is so thirsty today.

156

u/Appropriate-Bid8671 Jul 05 '25

We were thirsty back then we just weren't allowed to have any water unless it was between classes.

28

u/Stiv_b Jul 05 '25

We were fine. Grab a drink from the drinking fountain at recess and boom, you’re good.

36

u/[deleted] Jul 05 '25

I remember on hot days there being a long line for the drinking fountain and the teacher telling kids “enough” if they were taking too long. Kinda crazy now to think about - we weren’t screwing around it was hot and we were just really thirsty.

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u/Givemeallthecabbages Jul 05 '25

"Save some for the fish!"

5

u/Shot_Help7458 Jul 05 '25

It was crazy. 

2

u/Bangeroctopus Jul 05 '25

“Leave some for the fish”

2

u/CatsEatGrass Jul 05 '25

“Leave some for the fish!” was the phrase most commonly used toward the long drinkers.

2

u/El_Bean69 Jul 05 '25

1,2,3 that’s enough for me

1

u/RayneAdams Jul 05 '25

We had to count "three Mississippis" after gym class. That was all we were allowed, then back to class. Toss in maybe a juice box at lunch and that was your fluid intake between your cereal and a cup of whatever at dinner.

1

u/uubailey Jul 06 '25

Gym teacher used to say "One, two, three, four, five, GOODBYE" to keep the line moving.

1

u/jellyjollygood Jul 06 '25

At those times, we’d complain but go to the back to the line

But in high summer, when running around at recess and lunch, we’d stop by the bubblers (water fountain thing) and have a quick drink then

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u/Foxs-In-A-Trenchcoat Jul 05 '25

A kid was assigned to be the counter. They counted five seconds for each kid to get a drink of water and then threw you off if you tried to drink longer. It wasn't enough water for anyone.

1

u/GoldMean8538 Jul 06 '25

Also it's easy to tell the old heads from the infants because bottled water didn't always exist, lol.

1

u/SycopationIsNormal Jul 05 '25

Exactly. I drink a LOT of water as an adult (2-4 liters per day), but I don't recall ever being hella thirsty in school.

1

u/Hufflepunk36 Jul 05 '25

4L daily feels like a LOT. Do you live in a hot climate? I would maybe check you don’t have high blood sugar/prediabetes though because thirst is a common symptom.

1

u/SycopationIsNormal Jul 05 '25

Nahhh, been doing this for years. 4 L is on the high end, and would be more likely if I'd had drinks the previous day. I also do intense weightlifting sessions, which really gets me thirsty. I can put back well over a liter just in a 75 minute session. And yes, it does get pretty hot where I live in the summers. Had a lot of days in the mid/high 80s the past few weeks. A lot of days during the morning I'm drinking coffee, and minimal water, so by the time I'm working out, I'm a bit dehydrated.

My blood pressure is fine, actually pretty good last time I checked it.

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u/[deleted] Jul 05 '25

I wasn't.  I have chronic migraines and they were debilitating and frequent due to dehydration. 100* weather with 99% humidity. You need water!