[€uroMeinke]

My school years taught me that what’s real doesn’t matter so much as what the records say are real. So hear are a few examples of that learning – made more amusing if you know my current profession:

In high school, each semester’s PE class was divided into 3 sections. During each section, you select your next PE class. To manage the process, they gave us the cards they use to track attendance and grade, handing them out to us to then hand to the coach we wanted next. The cards were needed at the beginning and end of each semester to record our grades and attendance, which meant – you could take the card for the 2nd section, not go to PE at all – but bring the card back for the third section selection. Being the instigator that I am, I shared this theory with a friend – who did it successfully and got a one hour break for a third of the year.

A subversive teacher of ours would sign his hall passes M. Borman, knowing it never really mattered who’s name was on the pass. We took this clue, stole a bunch of passes and continued the tribute signing them M Borman. My High school was very interested in finding his whereabouts.

On returning from an absence, we were required to go to the office to get a “readmit” slip, which would be signed by all our teachers (to let us back into class) and then turne3d back into the office at the end of the day. This was intended to prevent cutting class. However, getting our hands on some blank readmit forms – we were able to cut classes at will, as the office presumed, according to our records, that we had perfect attendance.

Detentions were tracked with tick marks on an index card, add the tick marks and you served your detention. The records being the obvious evidence of the act. Well, it’s amazing how easily accessible those cards were – I feel sorry for the kids who served their full terms.

Were I younger, I have no doubts I would have been a hacker in high school