Being at Cocoa High School from 1956-1960 after the launch of Sputnik and the US response to ramp up science and math was pretty impressive.  The school faced a huge influx of kids from military and science/tech folk coming to the Cape and Patrick AFB.  Where else could you take Electronics as a freshman?  Where else would your Calculus teacher be just one chapter ahead of you because 1960 was the first year it was taught?  (And then Tom Norwich did 7 chapters one weekend, asked Mrs. Pomeroy a question on Monday, and she caught up with him overnight to answer the question on Tuesday!)  Very dedicated teachers.

And pressure!!  I had to beg Ms. Payne (Speech teacher) for an A, and do extra credit work, else wouldn't get to be valedictorian, just as my sister had been 7 years earlier!  Remember Ms. Payne's makeup - stopped right at the jawline!

Then there was the story of poor Randy Revels trying to explain to his dad (who was also the principal!) him that an invite to a BYOB party really stood for Bring Your Own Bible to a Baptist Youth Organization Bash.

And, as at all schools, the drama of being a geek and wondering what all the cool kids did on weekends.

Good times.

M