Don’t Make Me Have To Come Back!

Louisiana, late 60’s and early’s 70’s, was a time of radical change. Schools were finally being integrated. Uncertainty was the norm for all children, black and white. While many white students left the public schools altogether quite a few stayed. My brother and I were public school men all the way except for two years when my brother was going to be bussed to a school far away. During this time my Dad sent him to the closest school possible, a private school. My Dad did not believe in busing, or private schools, but he chose the lesser of two evils.

When it was time for my brother to come back to the local public school, the whole system was in disarray. As the busing calmed down teachers were moved. It was a chaotic time. The locals schools were suddenly inahabited by new teachers and students. No one was really familiar with each other or what was going on.

My brother was in the eighth at this point. He was a straight-A student who rarely made a “B” on anything. His teacher was new at the school having been moved from one of the segregated schools in the area. The first test my brother took was a Louisiana History test. Naturally, he made a 100 on the test. The teacher promptly told him he had cheated and gave him a “0”. My brother brought this test paper home and showed it to my Mother. My Dad was working off for a week at a time at the time.

Well, my Dad came home. He was not happy. A trip to the school did not do much good. The principal, who knew our family and how great a student my brother was, sided with the teacher. My Dad did not say anything. He told my brother to let him know when the next test was. The next test was the following week. So my Dad went to work, but came back home to be there for when the test was being given. He called the school and announced he would be present for the test. The principal called the local police. The chief himself came, but only to observe. He knew my Dad was a fair man and just wanted to make things right.

After discussing the deal with the teacher and principal it was decided my brother would be given his test where he could not cheat. My Dad pulled his desk in the middle of the hall. The local policeman sat out in the hall with my brother to make sure he did not cheat. The test was given. My brother sat in the hall and took his test. After the test was over my Dad made sure it was graded right away. What did my brother make? Well, he made a 100, of course.

My Dad was not very happy. As a matter of fact he was so livid the local policeman had to remind him he’d take him in if he had to. My Dad thought about that for a second. I really think he was thinking of making a stand and getting it all out in the open with the local news and all. He decided not to do that though. The principal and the teacher were both standing in the hall as my Daddy began to leave. As he was passing by them he stopped and told them both, “Don’t make me have to come back!” He had gotten his point across.