In 1969, I was 12-13 years old and almost in High School. My City High School in Massachusetts, would go on to attempt an open campus experiment, similar to the freedom of college. The students took advantage and the schools grounds became like the "Who" song, "teenage wasteland". They students became wasted zombies on various drugs, on the school grounds; LSD to Reds; barbiturates, and all in the middle.
Over 1/3 of the student body skipped over 40 days of school during the experiment and should not, by state law, have passed. However, most of the students would be passed forward to the next grade or for graduation. The adults were very indulgent to the baby boomer youth, but still were very concerned for their adult futures. This was all new and everyone was learning in the school of hard knocks.
I was part of the last year of that open campus experiment, when I reached High School. I would sign into my home room for attendance, most days, and then let the spirit decide the rest of my day; wander around or find a safe house. I still ended with up an A-average for the tests I did take. My teachers forgave me, if I missed tests, or decided not to make them up. They were concerned for the futures, of all the egg heads; smart kids, swept up in the revolution.
It was awesome time as a young person; all was new, but it could have gone sour big time. Back then you could get around by hitch hiking, with adults often your best rides, even to the mountains or beach. You did not need money but could panhandle or go home to eat. Or you could hitch hike or find a place to crash. Bumming change turned into code for buying and selling drugs; have a nickel or dime referred to an amount. You could make deals ini front of the adults, in public places, and they were not the wiser.
Much of the youthful stress and drug numbing was connected to the the Viet Nam War. Almost nobody from my generation wanted to go to that war, because it was different from the wars we had learned from our fathers. It was called a Police action, which meant it was more designed for Cold War and selling bullets. It was not righteous was like in WWII. You were sitting ducks or assassins, unable to go in, win and come home. Nobody wanted to kill or be killed or blown up for the Military Complex and the politician kickbacks.
The Pharmaceutical industry also had an impact; mothers little helpers (pills). Ups and Downs were easy to come by, with Pharmacies often selling these over the counter to the young people, since these were already in most home medicine cabinets to borrow. The future was to be drugs for anything, so we were told.
Lowering the drinking and voting age would be lobbied and lowered to 18, soon after. The young men could be drafted at 18, so it made no sense they could not have a beer, legally, or even votes, but they could blow up a village. The youth were a powerful lobby group, back then, with them able to win over their parents, who would often vote along with them, on many progressive issues. I turned 18 when the draft was lifted.
The dividing line in culture, back then, could be summarized by the chant, "do not trust anyone over 30". Instead of dividing culture into black and white, or male and female, like they do today, it was divided based on your generation. The New Age of Aquarius versus the Cold War Status quo. The Cold War threat also created a stress. This dividing line helped the young people of all colors and creeds to be on the same team; common underground. It was the Love Generation, in the pockets that I roamed. I missed all the violence.
There was also a protest against materialism, with the youth down dressing; old blue jeans and unkept Jesus beards. The girls were very creative, most making or modifying their own peasant clothes. It was also the time of sexual liberation and do your own thing, which back then was an open creative book, and not a bunch of taught procedures and off the shelf lifestyles like today. It was more like one foot in experiment and one foots still being natural.
Many of the Youth leaders on the Left, who had pushed for the change, would grow up to sell out and become the hippie-crates of today, re-dividing the Left youth along the lines of sex and color. They became a worse Swamp, than that which they tried to fight; modern Left wing tax payer money laundering scams. I often gripe against the Left, due to their generational hypocrisy. The young people of today don't know their leaders are an even worse over 30 generation, that promotes division, and uses them as pawns.