Scared? Absolutely

I am talking about gym class in my freshman year at Slatington High School.  That gym class had three elements to make up the perfect, scary storm.

Element Number One was us. Naïve, fragile, pimply-faced, college prep boys. New to high school after coming off a year of being the big shots of Junior High. Small in comparison to Element Number Two. Patience, that’s coming next.  Ready and eager to please in our spiffy new gym uniforms purchased, of course, at Marty’s Sporting Goods.  We had no idea who would be in our gym class. We assumed just us. But, alas, Element Number Two was part of our gym class as well.

Element Number Two was them. Experienced, confident, strong, menacing senior boys. They were the senior boys who today would most likely be in alternative school. They thought gym class was a joke. They must have been ecstatic when they saw that they would be in gym class with us, perfect victims. A strong, competent gym teacher might have been our saving grace. But, instead, we had Element Number Three.

Element Number Three was our gym teacher, Mr. Lloyd Williams. Mr. Williams was an historic figure at Slatington High. He was the coach of our famous 1954 championship basketball team, known as The Ironmen, who defeated teams from much larger schools.  I believe he was also an excellent athlete himself, at one time. But this is over a decade past his Ironman days and he was, quite frankly, old, detached, and ineffective.  He would greet the gym class, tell us what he wanted us to do, and then usually retreat to his office.

The wolves were in charge of the sheep. The fox was guarding the henhouse. My knees were shaking. It was a year of torture for us. We had basketballs thrown at us often. We were chased and mocked and tripped and ridiculed. One friend of mine was forced to lift his shirt and a huge face was drawn on his stomach and chest with permanent marker. Mr. Williams would tell us to run laps and the senior boys would suggest dodgeball instead.  Dodgeball it was. The shower room after was no better. Towels were snapped at us. Hot water was shut off of our showers.  Clothes would be stolen and tossed around. We never complained to anyone. We just assumed this is what it meant to be a freshman in high school. Like I have often written, these were simpler times.

We all survived this, of course.  I think that the way I handled myself in this gym class kept me from being a prime victim of the torture. It is a lesson I learned that has been valuable in the rest of my life.  Because, we all know, bullies are everywhere. My advice, if confronting a bully is not an option, is to first keep a low profile. Second, never give them the reaction they are looking for (easier said than done). Third, be a master of self deprecating humor and be able to laugh at yourself. Finally, even when the wolves are at the door, be consistently respectful and kind .  That eventually pays off.  At least it has in my life.

The other lesson I learned from this class is that there will always be people who want to take advantage of the vulnerabilities of others. Don’t be one of those people!