Youth, despite its moments of uninhibited joy, can be punishing. Not just the modes of punishment meted out by parents, but forms of humiliation at school that create an audience for mistakes.
Kids fear that the joke will be on them.
A youngster often lacks knowledge of proper behavior. He knows not left or right.
The opposite sex? Talk about mystery!
A parent who wishes to save money decides to cut their child’s hair. The tactless first-grade teacher’s comment? “Did your mother put a bowl on your head?”
What are you supposed to do? How do you fit in? The embarrassment of asking someone to tell you reveals your weakness.
Even requesting permission to use the washroom is not easy to manage. The one who suffers from an “accident” counts the time before the class sees the evidence.
What follows is a post about one aspect of such humiliation, dating from 2014. Thousands have read it.
You will enjoy the punch line.
Gosh, I remember how awkward it was just to change into our PE clothes in the locker room. I also remember that showers were optional after that period, but I rarely remember anyone taking one. Instead, we just went to our next class, stinking to high heaven.
In the “high heaven” department, I had a locker room next to a kid who not only didn’t shower, but didn’t take his PE t-shirt home, not even once over the course of the semester. I gave him hell, to no avail. The shirt became toxic.
Thanks for reminding me of the fellow, Pete. The great irony is that he became an MD. Not only that, the father of one of my best friends told me much later that the doc saved his dad’s life!
How humiliating on so many levels. I had no knowledge of this practice. As you said, “Youth, despite its moments of uninhibited joy, can be punishing.” Indeed, indeed!
There is no reason to know it, Vicky. It has become a part of ancient history, one of those things you had to live to know about. I suspect that when all of us who did experience it are gone, the knowledge of it will fade away. At this distance, it has become amusing. Close up, not so much. Thank you.
I liked Pete’s comment about avoiding the showers after PE class…preferring to be stinky! At least that was a choice! 😉
Take a look at my response to Pete, Vicky. The air quality of the fellow in the locker adjacent to mine should have been reported to the Environmental Protection Agency, if only one existed at that time.
Whoa my goodness!!! What a memory…and what a life he had, no doubt learning more than he ever bargained for – about hygiene, cleanliness, safety – as a physician! Hilarious! Humble and stinky origin story! 😉😉😉
All that, and while I was glad my friend’s dad survived, I still have only stinky memories!
I had no idea this took place, but can’t begin to imagine the humiliation. My father attended Chicago Public High Schools starting in 1970, so I wonder if he was subjected to this practice. I’m so glad to eventually stopped… it’s just awful on every possible level.
You might want to take a look at the link that takes you to a revised version of my post, as well as a discussion of the practice on WBEZ radio in 2017. The short answer is that your dad probably did endure the nakedness of swim class unless he got a doctor’s note. Thanks, Erin.
I’ll check that out. Wow… just shocking!
What a relief it must’ve been for boys when this practice ended!
I am sure you are right, Rosaliene. That said, I don’t think all of them would have heard about the existence of the practice, nor its ending. No one In knew talked about it. Not my dad or uncles, not friends, not me with my younger brothers, etc. The silence took the form of embarrassment, I suspect.
Wow, that was a story. I remember when I joined the Army and everything was out in the open. It was weird at first, but you get used to it quickly. Going to the field and digging “cat holes,” as we call it, in the middle of camp was something out of this world. The first time I used one is something I’ll never forget.
By the way, I’ve been cutting my son’s hair since he was little. I think his college is paid for thanks to all the money we’ve saved over the years. I’m an excellent barber, and he likes the haircuts, so we’re all good. Great post, Dr. Stein.
Congrats on cutting your son’s hair. I never tried it, but my mom did (with shocking results at first) and my youngest daughter does with great success on her boys — my grandchldren. I imagine it brings you closer to your son. You are a man of many talents, Edward. Thanks.
Thank you, Dr. Stein. It’s another opportunity to spend time with my son, so I truly enjoy it. Haircuts are getting insanely expensive. When I was in college, I went to the barber every week and paid $5, tip included. Because I went every week, I only had to pay every other week. He was a great guy who understood that students were on a budget. Now haircuts are almost $30.
Informative, since hair loss reduces my cost! These days I cut my own. Thanks, Edward.