EARLY SCHOOL RIVALRIES FUEL LIFETIME OF CONTENTION

Early school rivalries explain so much about how we interact with one another.

I started school at sea level; the rivalry schools were on higher ground. That’s where kids from the fancy part of town learned how important they were and why they were better.

At least that was the theory in first grade. Sports started in fourth grade and proved the theory correct. They were better than us.

But it changed. Instead of hating on grade schools, we grew up and hated on other junior high schools in other towns.

We had to put early school rivalries aside because now we were all on the same side. But now and then someone remembered a grade school game that turned out better for them.

Instead of special kids from fancy neighborhoods, we played kids we knew nothing about. It was hard getting fired up against teams from smaller towns.

High school felt like a promotion. Instead of losing to teams in football games played in their mud, we moved up and lost to Eugene schools inside Autzen Stadium. It felt like a bright lights, big city, moment.

Like the fond memories between grade school and junior high, I met guys in college who remembered playing high school football and stomping my Bulldogs by sixty.

After the sporting years ran their course, school rivalries turned into town rivalries. A Louisiana native said, “Where I come from, everyone thinks a town as small as yours is full of hillbilly rednecks.”

I didn’t have heart to tell him everyone I know thinks the same about his whole state.

Bad Attitudes From School Rivalries

Once we grow up, we’re supposed to put childish things away and be adults. That’s how it’s supposed to work, but flare-ups still happen.

Is Oregon better than Idaho? Apparently, since the new idea to expand Idaho into Oregon. Greater Idaho?

Or, The State of Jefferson?

From school rivalries, to towns, to states, to nations, it all comes from the same place. And we’re supposed to outgrow those feelings, to ignore the put-downs, to be the better person.

And it works.

Ask someone where they come from and you’ll hear one of three answers: 1. All over. 2. Out west. Or, 3. The specific place.

Saying all over means you grew up on military bases. Saying a direction like out west or down south has a sense of shame. I always go for the specific place. Like this:

Q: Where did you grow up?

A: North Bend, Oregon.

Q: Oh, I love the mountains.

A: North Bend is on the coast; Bend is in Central Oregon.

Q: Oh, right. Coos Bay.

A: North Bend.

Q: I just love Bandon.

A: Okay.