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“Verity - the quality or state of being true or real; Balderdash –
nonsense.”
Miriam-Webster Online Dictionary
Verities & Balderdash
A time to
remember
Edited & Commentary by Bob Robinson
I was in the seventh grade in 1957. By then I was already in a
metropolitan area, so I don’t remember shotguns in cars… not in
Lincoln, Nebraska. I do remember at Texas A&M shotguns on racks in
the back windows of pickups a few years later. Everywhere. It wouldn’t
be unlikely that one would end up on a high school campus following an
early-morning quail hunt.
I had my share of fist fights in high school. I was one of those kids
who didn’t quite fit in with the rest of the student body. Lost most
(but not all) of them, but that was one of the costs of growing up. I
don’t remember ever shaking hands and becoming friends (I still didn’t
fit in), but I never had any more trouble from that particular kid.
I “manufactured” cinnamon, peppermint and spearmint toothpicks for sale
to students in junior high and my freshman year in high school. Not a
big time operation, but I made my lunch money. I imagine that would be
called “dealing” today.
I got my butt warmed more than once for misbehaving… with a few
exceptions (like smoking), it was behavior I strived never to repeat.
Oh yeah, and I stuck grasshoppers into small boxes one summer during an
“infestation” that was destroying corn crops. I “blew” them up with
firecrackers left over from the Fourth of July.
I never said I was an angel.
A young lady who is very dear to me has taken on the challenge of
teaching English as a second language. We are a multi-cultural society
that, despite government efforts, uses English as its primary form of
communication. Mandated forms and signs in 20,000 languages (plus or
minus) only makes her job more difficult.
Finally, I’ve lost track of the number of times I got hurt, or my
feelings got hurt or something sad happened. My parents weren’t at
school to comfort me, but many teachers over the years gave me the hugs
I needed when they were needed the most.
I try to return the favor when I can. Today’s children are no different
than the children of a half century ago. Sometimes a hug heals a lot of
wounds.
So how do I remember the 1950’s? I think I just told you. How do you
remember it? Or if you aren’t old enough to remember… which of the
following appeals to you?
This was sent by a CNO reader…
High School: 1957 vs 2007
Scenario 1: Jack goes quail hunting before school and then pulls into
the school parking lot with his shotgun in his truck's gun rack.
1957 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his
car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2007 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail
and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for
traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario 2: Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.
1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake
hands and end up buddies.
2007 - Police called and SWAT team arrives - they arrest both Johnny
and Mark. They are both charged them with assault and both expelled
even though Johnny started it.
Scenario 3: Jeffrey will not be still in class, he disrupts other
students.
1957 - Jeffrey sent to the Principal's office and given a good paddling
by the principal. He then returns to class, sits still and does
not disrupt class again.
2007 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He becomes a
zombie. He is then tested for ADD. The school gets extra
money from the state because Jeffrey has a disability.
Scenario 4: Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad
gives him a whipping with his belt.
1957 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to
college and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed
to foster care and joins a gang. The state psychologist is told
by Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad
goes to prison. Billy's mom has an affair with the psychologist.
Scenario 5: Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1957 - Mark shares his aspirin with the Principal out on the smoking
dock.
2007 - The police are called and Mark is expelled from school for drug
violations. His car is then searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario 6: Pedro fails high school English.
1957 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.
2007 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles
appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for
graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against the
state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English is then banned
from core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway but ends
up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario 7: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the Fourth of
July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up a red ant
bed.
1957 - Ants die.
2007 - ATF, Homeland Security and the FBI are all called. Johnny
is charged with domestic terrorism. The FBI investigates his
parents; all siblings are removed from their home and all computers are
confiscated. Johnny's dad is placed on a terror watch list and is
never allowed to fly again.
Scenario 8: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his
knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to
comfort him.
1957 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2007 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her
job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5
years of therapy.
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