I may need to put my conflict with the vice principal into context. I
did not hate the guy he was just a guy who was trying too hard to be
one of the guys, a skill you either have or do not, and when his
every man’s approach didn't work he would flip over into a
draconian authoritarian. This would happen a couple of times a day.
His favorite metaphor for what types of kids that ruined it for
everyone was lifted from a comment made by the American Motorcyclist
Association that only 1% of bikers were outlaws. He adapted that for
the kids at our high school and doubled it to be the 2%. He would
refer to the 2%ers every chance he got, in speeches and over the PA
or anytime he had a captive audience. Knowing that he thought we were
twice as saturated with real criminals than the American biker gang
culture made me happy. Many of the kids at the school began referring
to themselves as 2%ers and a friend of mine loved to use it as
justification and explanation for his bad behavior.
An example based on actual events:
The Vice Principal: “Who stole the responsibility banner from the
hall?”
My friend: “I bet it was one of those 2%ers!”
Another example:
The Vice Principal: “Why did you steal the responsibility banner
from the hall?”
My friend: “I can't help it, I am a 2%er what do you expect?”
I loved that he assumed that all high school kids were a little dim
and we all just needed to be tricked into good behavior with a little
shame and a little “buy in”. Every time we came into conflict
over matters large or small I liked to tweak him a little about his
simplistic views about child psychology and the problem child. I bet
he really loved me for doing that and helping him discover the flaws
in his thinking.
