> Beginning in the third grade and on thru college, I carried a pocket knife every single day. I still do. I have a little pearl-handled beauty in my pocket right now. I hope they leave one in my pocket when they stuff me in a pine box. I have never stabbed anybody, but I did cut my finger once in high school and bled on the floor. The girl sitting behind me passed out, but they didn't take my knife or kick me out of school. I remember going to the office for a band-aide. The principal kidded me about the girl who swooned over me. It was different for those of us who started school in 1939.

Not entirely so different, Howard. I carry a pocketknife, and did all through high school (and would have before that, except that I didn't have one). I've never actually gotten in trouble for having it, even though it was against the rules at every school I was at. And faculty and administrators saw me with it, too - in fact, they'd often ask to borrow it. Things aren't really all that different everywhere.