In the third grade, following a test, a teacher accused me of cheating.  She showed me my test in which another student's name had been erased and my name written in. 

The thing is, my name was clearly in his handwriting, which I quickly pointed out.  Additionally, this test was a much lower grade than the test with my name erased and his written in. 

I may have been awkward but I was a good student.  I put much effort into being one and never got in trouble.

She quickly realized her error but I still remember the feeling of incredulity from being accused of something I had no part in.  You expect those in authority to be exempt from error, even though they too are humans.  I also played basketball at this age.

I only recently seem to have shed general trust of the system.  I still believe in certain system design dynamics: accountability, transparency, efficiency and the capability of benign authority to organize systems strictly adherent to those dynamics.  I just now know that malignant actors can also intervene.  Dishonesty destroys systems, potentially beyond repair. 

It seems we humans cherish youthful innocence; wishing to maintain it into adulthood.  It's sensible.  You didn't worry about safety and security; you weren't even aware where on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs you sat.

Still, recognizing that things can actually get worse makes me question the value of worshipping innocence.  Wherein dark forces lurk, it's better to acknowledge them with bright light.  Otherwise, they fester and potentially smash out all the lights of truth.