Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

Somerville in the late ’70’s and ’80’s was a lot different than today. High School was a bit stricter and we had creative ways of letting off steam. Please be assured I have the utmost respect for most teachers and the education system.

Somerville High School.

As I watch the progress of the construction of the new Somerville High School, memories of my days at the old high school fill my head. I recall the demonstrations, walk outs, ridiculous dress codes and the archaic disciplinary practices. But I also remember all the fun we had. The strict rules enforced by the principal, vice principal and building masters made it all the sweeter when we broke the rules.

I graduated in 1971 and seven years later I returned as a substitute teacher. $25 bucks a day. The money was okay but the look of terror on my former teachers’ faces when they saw me smoking in the teacher’s lounge was freaking priceless! But first a little of my history as a student.

Even though my mom paid a fellow student to tutor me during my whole sophomore year, I still flunked Geometry. To my shock, they put me back in Geometry for my junior year with the same teacher who flunked me. When I saw my schedule on the first day of school, I walked out of class and marched into my guidance counselor Mr. Perno’s office. I told him if they stuck me back in Geometry with the same teacher I’d quit school. He came up what we jokingly labeled The Jimmy Course. No math! No math at all!

Western Junior High.

I took Music Appreciation, Music Theory, Boys Glee Club, SHS Glee Club, and A Cappella Choir. And to think I graduated from Emerson College with a BFA, and zero math background. It’s a wonder I didn’t end up in the gutter. And my intimidation by that math teacher eventually subsided.

Fast forward a few years. I loved substituting. I was playing in a rock band at night and dragging myself into various schools in the morning. Although sometimes when the schools called my house at 7:15 a.m., I didn’t answer the phone.

As a 1968 graduate of the Western, and then a sub, one of my fondest memories was a personal phone call by the principal of the very same Western Junior High School, Dr. Wendell David Jones.

It was around 1978 and the call went something like this. “Hello James, this is Mr. Jones at the Western. It seems some of the students forced the substitute teacher to abruptly leave the classroom by way of the window. I wonder if you could come up and take over the class. And James, please leave the leather jacket at home.”

True story. Later that week Dr. Jones scolded the students for convincing me, still a novice sub, that it was okay for them to play cards at their desks. My dad and Dr. Jones grew up together and were golf buddies, along with my Uncle Sal, their whole lives.

Another funny memory was when I was subbing at Somerville Trade High around 1981. The students told me that it was okay if I read the newspaper while they ran amuck in the class room. They were blowing plastic wire nuts though lengths of pipe, out the window at passing cars. One driver whose car got hit barreled into the front door, pass the office, up the stairs and into the classroom. He was in a rage as he confronted the culprits with principal Muzzioli following right behind. That was my last day as a substitute teacher at Trade High.

Somerville Trade School.

Other memories were of the time I gave a friend of mine his own pad of corridor passes at Somerville High. One time he wrote himself a pass and came into my classroom to borrow my cigarette lighter. Those crazy ’80’s! (not proud of that one)

I had substitute teaching adventures at Southern Junior, Northeastern Junior, Western Junior, Somerville High and Somerville Trade. Can’t make this stuff up. Precious memories.

I still run into former students who remember having me as their substitute teacher. It’s always great to see them and chat. Most kids have memories of just being a student. I’m lucky that I also have memories of being a teacher too, even if it was just as a sub.

I was later sworn in as Somerville High School’s drama teacher. But when I realized my fun loving care free days were over, and this was a serious career move, I promptly resigned. I may have the Guinness World Book Record for the shortest tenure as a teacher ever. I signed a contract and was sworn in as a teacher on Monday, and two days later on Wednesday I wrote a letter of resignation. I did end up with a nice new wardrobe though.

Southern Junior High.

Ranking right up there with top high school memories was the great Schaefer Beer Jingle Fiasco. The chorus director, Mr. Smith, was addressing a packed audience in the SHS Auditorium while the Boys Glee Cub grew restless behind the closed curtain on risers. As Mr. Smith was still talking to the audience, we broke into a resounding chorus of The Schaefer Beer jingle. “Schaefer, Is the, one beer to have when you’re having more than one!” The curtain flew open and Mr. Smith literally had smoke coming out of his ears as he loudly lambasted us for our very hilarious ignorance. Ah, high school memories!

Other memorable times were all the Talent Nights my friends and I performed at.

I put in about 6 or 7 years as a substitute earning me the nickname The Trouble Shooter. I took the classes that no other subs would take.

I hope the future students of the new Somerville High School have great memories of their years there just as I have so many memories of my time served.

“Your Education is like a Bank Account. The more you put into it, the more you get out of It.”
— David Jones, Ph.D