In the 1930s, math was taught only up till trigonometry in high schools. It was quite unusual to have a math instructor for Calculus.
The legendary physicist & Nobel Prize winner, Richard Feynman, was studying at Far Rockaway High School in New York at the time.
Unlike other kids, he was quite curious about everything. He had a thirst for knowing more. For knowing things on a deeper level.
But times were different back in the 1930s.