High School 1958 vs 2012

This thing has been going around the internet since 2008, though there are other versions that have been around longer. Basically, it's this thing showing how everything was sooooo much better back in the "good old days." Of course, people who agree with this schlock are either persons of privilege or they forgot about all the horrible shit back in the "good old days." Not to mention, so much of this thing is so full of shit and false information, I don't know where to begin. So I won't. What I will do is offer up more realistic versions written by myself and others.

And because I enjoy twisting things for my own, fuquerie-filled agenda, I'm going to entertain y'all with some stories based on these wayward teens. And I'm back dating this entry because I don't want sooper serious crap messing up my whimsy. And because I can. I'd back date it to 1958, but Blogger won't let me do anything before 1970.





The idiotic, original version.

HIGH SCHOOL -- 1958 vs. 2012

Scenario 1:
Jack goes duck hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun in his truck's gun rack.
1958 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2012 - 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.
1958 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2012 - Police called and SWAT team arrives -- they arrest both Johnny and Mark. They are both charged with assault and both expelled even though Johnny started it. 

Scenario 3:
Jeffrey will not be still in class, he disrupts other students.
1958 - 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.
2012 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He becomes a zombie. He is then tested for ADD. The family gets extra money (SSI) from the government 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.
1958 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college and becomes a successful businessman.
2012- 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.
1958 - Mark shares his aspirin with the Principal out on the smoking dock.
2012- 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.
1958 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.
2012 - 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.
1958 - Ants die.
2012 - ATF, Homeland Security and the FBI are all called. Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. The FBI investigates his parents - and 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.
1958 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2012 - 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.

More realistic versions:

Scenario 2
Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school.
1958: Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies. However, Johnny harbors resentment over losing the fight, exacerbated by Mark's ribbing. Johnny purposely gets into fights so he can prove himself. Eventually, Johnny picks a fight with the wrong person and is severely beaten. The doctors say he has brain damage and will never fully recover. Johnny spends the rest of his life in a group home.
2012: The fight is broken up by adult staff. Johnny and Mark are sent to counseling where they learn communication techniques and non-violent conflict resolution. Thanks to this shared learning experience, they become fast friends who can always talk to one another.

Scenario 6
Pedro fails high school English.
1958: Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college. He gets a job, but since racist social policies keep Pedro from being able to get the job he is qualified for, he winds up at a lesser-paying job and struggles to advance in a company that only promotes among white employees.
2012: Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college. He gets a job.

The Takahashi family live in San Francisco.
1958: It's taken over a decade of hard work, but they were able to rebuild their thriving business after the US government handed it over to their neighbors after the Takahashis were sent to the Heart Mountain detention camp for being Japanese.
2012: Your point being?

Jane wants to be an astronaut.
1958: Awww, isn't that cute? Jane thinks she's people!
2012: Jane works hard in college and eventually secures a position at NASA.

My brother has ADHD.
1958: My brother gets spanked by the school on a daily basis for disrupting class. He is in detention after school every day for bad behavior. He struggles in school and is held back for failing grades. By the time he's a teenager, he completely drops out of school and gets a job at the shirt factory. He's laid off when the shirt factory closes and he has to move in with his parents. He drinks daily to alleviate his depression. Eventually, he hangs himself.
2012: Having been diagnosed with ADHD in childhood, my brother successfully completed high school and is raising a beautiful family while working on his Master's degree. 

Jane goes to school.
1958: Jane catches polio from her best friend. Janet's friend dies and Jane is paralyzed for life.
2012: Jane and her friend were vaccinated against polio at 6 months. They lead long, happy lives. 

As you can see, these scenarios are far more realistic. And far less stupid. Not saying that all was shit back then or all is perfect now, but holy hell, people, don't be idiots!