The Boys of the Old School Years

Conjoint efforts toward common goals steadily bridged the ancorous rift between the groups. Before long, the verbal baiting had died and jostling in lines had ended. When asked to list their best friends, significant numbers changed from exclusive naming of in group chums to a listing that included boys in the other group. We can trace the roots of this surprising turnabout to those times when the boys had to view one another as allies instead of opponents.