It was a popularity contest featuring the three most popular blokes in the grade, not actually competing with each other.

Our group of 3 classrooms had two VCR’s. A couple of the popular kids knew how to wire them both up to work together. During movie sessions, they were both given control of the remotes to work them if tracking needed to be adjusted. Working a VCR was not rocket science.

So one of our teachers figured out a way to make money to fund activities for the class. Copies of the classic “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” were created over the course of a few days and sold to students and parents willing to pay for less than what Woolco and Zellers was charging at the time for legal copies.

I knew something was wrong about it but was afraid to speak up. Never told my parents about it. The lead teachers behind the scheme was not someone who was popular with many students or parents. So I suspect no one wanted to stir the pot. Someone commented that it was no different than making mixed tapes. They were right.

It was still fraud. It was still not right.

@WriterDann