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In the fall of 1962, the son of the deceased janitor
of Universal Engraving and Color Plate Company of Buffalo,
NY, was an honor student at the then most prestigious public
high school in Buffalo: Louis J. Bennett High School. His
social group consisted of young persons, who were the sons
and daughters of doctors, surgeons, business-owners -- all
from families owning their own homes and cars and living in
the better neighborhoods of the time, and often from
families who had sent older siblings on to prestigious
colleges. His dad had earned much less than a bus driver and
had just passed away that summer from a stroke.
Character,
as defined by Emerson in his essay of that name, is not
bounded by finances or social standing. It is a ???reserved
force???, ready for action when needed, to make great men (and
women). Most research seems to point to the formation of
much of personality and of ???character??? in the early life of
a child.
The teen
boy and his well-to-do peers attended honors English under
the expert teaching of one very strict Miss Bernadette
McNamara. There was zero fooling around! The boy had had two
pieces, one poem and one short story, published from class
work.
Then one
day, a meek Mrs. Smith served as the substitute. In 1962,
when much seemed fairly well with the world, most of this
bright class rebelled. They paid no attention. Their respect
for authority was EXTERNAL, not internally-based. Throughout
all of life, there is a huge difference!
The son of
the owner of a car dealership climbed in and out of the
first-floor window, in order to drop and then to retrieve
things. Others did likewise. All talked -- almost all. No
administrator appeared, no adult authority. Rhoda, who had a
crush on this one boy, whispered down the aisle to him,
???What??™s the answer to number x???? Rhoda had not joined in and
she wanted to get something done.
The boy
did not answer. He was becoming angry. He told Rhoda, ???I??™m
getting angry.??? Mrs. Smith was being shown great disrespect
in a school where this just did not occur.
The boy
stood.
???You are
not going to like me for this. But I think that we should
all stand up quietly in apology to Mrs. Smith.???
All did.
The bell
rang.
There was
considerable talk in the halls. Mrs. Smith thanked the boy.
The boy
learned many times that there is no guarantee for character
rewards in life. In fact, most of the world could care less,
as long as no crime is committed. We must just do the right
thing, because it is the right thing.
That is
the reward.
By: The
boy.
******************
Vance Agee
VGAgee @ aol.com |
