George,

I very clearly recall what happened in my high school when we had a protest against the Vietnam War. We simply wore black armbands on Moratorium Day. Some teachers questioned it, but largely they supported us. Other students weren't as welcoming (I think this was in 1970 or 71), although in general we felt terrific for doing it. A good friend of mine was sent to the office and was told by the vice principal, I believe, that she had to take it off, but she refused. He replied that we were too young to have principles!

It was a great experience, even though our principal was a virulent right-winger, anti-semite, and former administrator of one of the Japanese internment camps during WWII. And made things a bit miserable for us for awhile. Luckily, we had parents to support us. [Aside: he blamed the anti-war actions on the Jewish kids, and actually went to the Jewish Federation to ask them to "keep their kids in line." Needless to say, the response was NOT positive!] In 1970 he did, however, ban the senior class president from commencement exercises, and when he came to watch through the fence, called the police to arrest him. (Yes, he was Jewish, too.)

So, to sum things up, perhaps Sue Herndon's daughter could enlist her fellow students into a different form of protest, such as armband wearing. I bet students throughout C'ville and Albemarle would join in. You know how fast e-mail organizing works!

Claire Kaplan (electronic mail, March 20, 2003)