read and enjoy...how true

[charlz]

I don't see that as 1957...

As late as 1987 when I graduated little described in the OP's list would have caused problems. Smoking in the building might have, but only by students. Teachers did it all the time in their lounge. Brother carried and evil black rifle through school... so he could use it in a speech. Wasn't uncommon to see a dead deer in the back of a student's truck along with bloody gear in teh front seat. Teachers complimented the student on the rack or size etc.

Of course my school was (and still is) in the middle of a corn field.

Yep, I grew up in a rural area with a rural school about the same time. One of my friends dressed up as a cowboy for Halloween 'dress up day' at school. Decked out with real pistols and bandoleers of (gasp) real ammunition... nobody even batted an eye.

 

[texbaylea]

Back in the early 50s I was at Rice U and had friends at University of Houston a couple of miles away. U of H then had a student run "Frontier Days" type of celebrations and groups would create exhibits like dance halls and saloons. Ran for several nights and lots of youth around the city attended. The event raised money for some purpose but I forget what.

Anyway, in support of this activity, I and my friends staged a "shoot out" in a court at Rice. We loaded black powder blanks and had a load of fun. We got "talked to" because we shook the large plate glass windows of the library. These were windows 12 x 12 ft or larger. No other repercussions. It did get in one of the newspapers ( Houston had 3 then). Later that year a circus came to town and they had a stage coach robbery skit but fogot their blank cartridges. None were available in the city so we were asked to load them some. It was said that that was the best performance they ever put on with all the gunsmoke about but a little too loud.

Fun while it lasted.

Vernon

 

[k0ua]

Had a shop teacher one year, who if you got in a fight with somebody he would break it up then give each one a pair of boxing gloves and headgear and then "ref" the re-match. (Most just decided on a handshake and apology when given the choice)

The only difference in my school it was the Coach not the shop teacher that made the offer of the boxing gloves. Some put them on, but usually like you said, a handshake was the usual end result. several of the guys brought a rifle or shotgun to school in their cars or trucks. A lot of us hunted after school, they were unloaded and locked in the vehicles. The principal and superintendant didn't care as long as you did not get them out during the school session. One guy brought his collection of WW2 era handguns for a class show and tell, I remember looking them over on the bus as we went to school.. They were unloaded and he did not bring any ammo of course, he did this with full prior permission of the principal, the kid was 17. Old enough. I had my first rifle at age 12, my first handgun at age 13, (.22) and my first high power handgun (.357 magnum) at age 14. Old enough. I hunted almost every day after school in the fall/winter and all summer. Yes I am old, Yes it was a rural area, and a more or less Rural school. I graduated in 1971. I too am sorry to see the sorry state of affairs today. Things were a he** of a lot safer and better in the past.. There I have said it. I must be an old fart..Yep.
James K0UA