Remember Playing with Mercury When You Were In Grade School?

I remember doing a 4th. grade (1972) science experiment and playing with the mercury. We had a ball touching the little balls and watching them skitter across the container that the teacher had it in. I don't remember how long we played in it but I do remember that we would break thermometers to play with it after that.

Now if a drop of mercury is spilled there is a hazmat team called out for an industrial cleanup.

Boy, have times changed.