 |
| Me as a senior in high school 1959 - rebel (no smile) |
 |
| My class schedule card 12th grade |
Like most teenagers I made my period of rebellion.
Up until my senior year, I was a quiet, go along student. I was a "good boy" and did as I was told. I wanted every one to like me and the best way I could do that was obey my superiors, even when I sometimes had questions about their judgement.
 |
| Me as a junior in high school 1958 - my "good boy" phase, before I rebelled for being wrongly accused of cheating |
I almost got through high school with my "get along, go along" attitude until an incident in my second year bookkeeping class.
Bookkeeping was a requirement of the commercial course I chose. I wasn't a big fan of bookkeeping, this wasn't the sexy and interesting job choice I had hoped for my life. But even at that time I knew I had limited talents and realized that I had to acquire certain skills to get a job after graduation since I wasn't going to college.
Our school had a program in the senior year in which we could work outside school during part of the school year. Sort of an apprentice type job. Thus when I graduated from high school I could transition right into my office clerk job, probably a bookkeeping job.
I was on that course until this "incident" happened in my second year bookkeeping class one morning.
Mr. Vincent King was my bookkeeping teacher. He was a World War II veteran who walked like a penguin. This was the result of his toes being frozen off. Mr. King was a very serious teacher. I don't ever recall him smiling or joking with the class. No one ever questioned Mr. King.
I was a fair bookkeeping student. Mostly B's and a few C's. I don't think I ever got an A. I found bookkeeping boring but as I said before, I knew it was course I had to take to survive and get a job after I graduated from high school. If I didn't take an office job I would have to get a job at Lukens Steel Mill. That's where most of my fellow male students, who didn't go to college, would get a job. Lukens Steel, the only game in town for well paying jobs in my little town of Downingtown, Pennsylvania (population 5,000).
Now for the incident that changed the course my life was about to take:
That spring morning in 1959, I arrived at my second period bookkeeping class. As I was sitting down at my desk and taking out my bookkeeping book, I realized I had forgotten and left my homework at home. This was the first time I did this. I don't think I ever forgot my homework before.
As I and my fellow students settled ourselves at our desks, Mr. King walked into the classroom. He told us to pass up our homework. I raised my hand and told him that I had forgotten my homework. He immediately verbally attacked me and accused me of loaning my homework to fellow students. I was shocked. I had always gotten along with Mr. King. Sure, he was distant and not particularly friendly with students but I put that to his injuring he suffered during World War II, his missing toes that affected the way he walked. No students ever made fun of him like they did other teachers who had unusual characteristics. No one dared.
I was shocked that he would accuse me of cheating. I never cheated in high school. Never. I know that's hard for many to believe (which I have since found out since I've told this story to others). No, I have NEVER cheated. Even back then in my ignorant teenage days, I didn't see the value in cheating. You either learned the subject or didn't, what was the value in cheating?
Mr. King knew others were cheating in his class. Looking back on it now I think he was disappointed in me that he thought I was part of that cheating ring. I knew other students in my class who copied other's homework but that wasn't me. I never loaned out my homework. I have a lot of flaws and I am far from perfect but one thing I don't do and never have cheated or help others to cheat, which sometimes caused me to lose friends.
When Mr. King yelled at me in front of the class I yelled right back at him that I didn't loan my homework out to others. He continued to berate me in front of my fellow students. I couldn't believe that he didn't believe me. I got up and walked out of the class. I was mad.
I don't remember exactly where I went next but I do remember that I was going to quit his class. I had enough credits to graduate so I didn't need his class.
 |
| My high school report card |
I told my Mother what happened. I told her I was going to quit Mr. King's class. She advised me not to. I disagreed with her. She advised me to see the guidance counselor, Mr. Kline. I didn't like Mr. Kline. I considered him weak and a loser and ineffectual. When I saw him I told him I was quitting Bookkeeping because I couldn't be in a class where the teacher falsely accused me of cheating without any proof. Of course Mr. Kline sided with Mr. King. This was the first time in my life I realized that right doesn't win, power does.
 |
| Mr. Kline with my classmate Marlene Alwood. Ironically I was there when this picture was taken for our yearbook. Marlene and I were on the yearbook staff to take pictures of different scenes. Of course I refused to be in this picture with Mr. Kline because I didn't like or respect him. I stood off to the side while the photographer took this picture for our yearbook. |
There was no way I was going back to Mr. King's class under those circumstances which in effect would acknowledge that I did cheat by loaning out my homework papers. I refused to go back. An Army couldn't get me to go back. Of course my father didn't care. He quit school in 8th grade. My Mother quite school in her senior year after she eloped to get married to my father. At least I wasn't going to quit school. As I said before I had enough credits to graduate.
Mr. Kline and the school administration took me out of the bookkeeping class and put me in place put me in study hall. When my Mother found that out she said "You're not wasting your time in study hall, you're going to take a course that will help you to get a job." The course she wanted me to take? TYPING! I told her I was already taking Typing. She made me double up on my Typing course, in place of the bookkeeping periods that I would no long being taken. She did not want me wasting my time sitting in Study Hall. She was adamant. I doubled up on Typing. Best decision she/I ever made. I always struggled with Typing. That's just what I needed, a double dose of Typing.
Now, the result of me quitting bookkeeping that changed the course of my life. Since I quite bookkeeping I wasn't eligible for the work/student program that our school had for commercial students. That meant when I graduated from high school I didn't have a job.
After I graduated from high school I tried to get a job. I was blackballed from all office jobs in Downingtown, Mr. King had his revenge. Downingtown was a small town then and word got around that I was a rebellious student and not for hiring. Lukens Steel was my only choice.
 |
| Lukens Steel Co., Coatesville, PA - where I didn't want to work after graduating from high school |
And being the sensitive young gay boy I was at that time, that kind of butch job wasn't a realistic option for me. That was when I decided to join the Navy. And that folks was when I encountered another major turning point in my life. I will tell that story in my next "Turning Points In My Life" installment.