HIGH STANDARDS IN HIGH SCHOOL

With my  surname of “Wiseman,” and an inquisitive nature, I was predisposed to carry on the intellectual pursuit of excellence in high school academics.

The entrance to the historic Ogallala High School, now Ogallala Middle School, showcasing its classic brick architecture and wide approach.

That I was committed to excellence is true, but I found it more adventurous to alter the course of my family line and pursue excellence in a slightly different way.  

My striving for excellence of performance took a sharp right turn in Mr. Fricke’s English class in high school.

My older brother, Stanley, was having fun with his new purchase from a novelty store.  He showed me how to mimic either a really loud nose-blowing sound or the disgusting sound of flatulence. This was achieved by vigorously blowing on a piece of rubbery material through the attached mouthpiece. I asked if I could take it to school.  He was delighted to see his little sister plot a creative use with it.

I had been absent for a few days with a bad cold, and presented my written excuse to Mr. Fricke upon my return to class.  He was at the time completing some written instructions on the chalkboard for the day’s English  lesson.  With the teacher’s back turned, the class got out their notebooks, ready for the assignment.

Seeing an immediate opportunity for an excellent solo performance, I brandished a large farmer’s handkerchief and waved it along with the novelty gag item in the air for all the class to see. All were silent, waiting for Act 1 to begin. I positioned the noisemaker in my mouth, hidden by the hankie and gave it a giant blow.  

This produced the anticipated tittering among the other students.  Mr. Fricke wheeled around and angrily denounced the heartless students who made fun of me, the innocent victim of a cold.

Act 2 brought a dilemma centerstage — how was I going to respond in order to keep up the facade but still not get in trouble?  

Of course, Mr Fricke’s kind defense of innocent me initiated a louder uproar by the class, and I immediately felt awful at my willingness to promote  ridicule upon a genuinely compassionate teacher.  

Unfortunately, I couldn’t resist Act 3, which a genuine turn around from my low down behavior should have avoided. So, with exaggeration I demurely bowed my head and wiped my nose with my hankie and waited for the drama to end naturally. The class, stifling another outburst, incurred a final scathing lecture from Mr. Fricke after which we finished the lesson for the day.

A quiet OHS classroom, viewed through a window, with a lone radiator that seems to hold stories of past gatherings and events. Could this be the venue of the Three Act Play?

I  was never discovered  as a  disrespectful student.  I also was never discovered by a Hollywood agent, but I did add the event to my personal portfolio of maintaining high standards in high school.