Lane Technical High School - Lane Tech Prep Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

Page 17 text:

The Lane Tech Annual for June, 1935 Page 15 That's fine, go and tell the division teacher about it. So it was agreed upon that Harris and Johnson were to deliver the baskets. This was to be done the last day before the vacation. It finally arrived, with it also arrived Sidney Epstein. Due to the fact that he could not get a car for his division, he asked if he might use Billyys. Harris consented. 'tNow remember, Epstein, the division is going to be extended today so that we can get the baskets packed. Right after division we leave. Say. . .are you listening to me? ffCertainly, we get the division packed and then leave the car in the basket. Isn't that right?'l No, you big dummox. Listen, if you are not there on time you're going to carry your basket on the street carl' That left Sid where he stood. I A visit to their own power plant While the food was being packed in their room the freshmen were discussing their new found friend. 'tllid you hear what that guy told me, Eric? Leave the car in the basket--humph. I wonder how he ever got to first grade. 'tHe probably stayed in there for eight years and then he outgrew the rest of the kids. Naturally, they would have to give him something for his achievement. Having an unused diploma on hand they decided to give it to him. And so to high school comes Einstein's, I mean, Epstein's protege. Welle-the baskets are ready. Grab the meat and let's go. As they approached Bill's car they saw something they could hardly believe. Epstein stood near the car and he was on time! Well, well, so you're all ready to go? 'fYes siree, but before we leave, I want to tell you of my new idea. Look here, why do we have to come back today? Why can't we tell our teachers that we got a flat tire on our way back. Boy, you certainly are original. just about every other student who is acting as chauffeur today has the same idea. Something new did you say? I can see how well you like school? Then Eric cut in,- I bet the only reason why he comes to school is so that he can look forward to the approaching hol- idaysf' The two weeks of Christmas vacation passed as if they were minutes. At least it seemed that way to the school-worn freshmen. New Years passed and the end of the first semester was coming to an end, with much work to be done. Epstein's ignorance was further demonstrated when he bumped into Eric and Bill in the corridor with a sad but true story. Listen, he said, have you fellows bought any of the study hall cards yet?', Study hall cards, you didn't fall for that one loo?,' 'fNo. I only paid five cents apiece for them. Now I can go to study whenever I have a study period. Without them I could not stay in the room. You better get your cards as soon as you can. Come on, I'll show you where to get them. But you have to go to study anyway, you fool. As for the cards, you get those from your division teacher. How many did you buy? Three, but I also bought some of these special pink cards. I can use them for a lunch ticket- That is what the fellers told me. Let me see those cards, Eric interrupted, 'KI might have known it! Discipline cards! And he buys them. Good night. I give up. Are you sure they didn't try to sell you a locker? ffNo, I'm afraid not, at least no one has asked me vet. There is an old saying which says:- Ignorance is blissff Epstein must have had a great many cup- fulls of happiness. If he had not been forewarned by his two friends, some fun loving senior would have sold him Seward Park or a part interest in the They saw many kinds of woodshop projects basketball team. Sid, it seemed, was not cut out for an educational high school career. He had a hard time of fcatching on' to the primary principles

Page 16 text:

Page 14 The Lane Tech Annual for June, 1935 As if the regular bothersome school work was not enough, they also had to have several encounters with Kurt Otto, a member of their division room. Otto was a bully of huge proportions. He was con- tinually picking on the smaller boys of his class, he would think nothing of giving any of them a push down the stairs if they happened to be in front of him. When reprimanded for his actions by a teacher the bully would offer a series of well-plann- ed alibis and excuses. Both, Eric and Bill were a- mong his 'victims'. One day while working in the wood-shop, which, incidently was Harris's favorite subject, they notic- ed that Otto worked at the next bench- He better not try any of his funny stuff around here today. l'm just in the mood to hit someone over the head with this two-by-fourf' Don't get excited, Bill, he hasn't tried anything yet. You would do better if you would watch what you are doing. That piece of wood is getting mighty small. You know what the instructor told us. He said to shut off the band saw when we are not using it. f'Oh, all right, wait a minute. Keep your shirt on. I'm not finished yetf' While the pals were engaged in their conversation Otto left his bench to get some varnish. He was It was a large woodshop just passing Billy when ..... 'fHey, Bill, look out! In another instant Harris was sprawled all over the floor, downed by a football tackle. 'fWhat is the idea?,' he shouted. Now it was Eric's turn to speak although his talk was very shaky. Phew! Boy, was that close! What do you mean close? Otto, the clumsy ox, had somehow got his feet entangled in yours as he passed. Didnit you feel yourself falling toward that saw?l' Gee, that's right. Thanks a lot, fellerf' 'fOh, itjs okay. Funny that the big guy didn't even stop. He just ran by. It was all his fault, toof, HWhere did I put that chunk of wood, Eric? I'll fix him! f'Wait a second, Hercules. What you are about to do is the easiest way to get yourself into the disci- pline room. You would probably get about two weeks. You'd better forget it for a while. General Science was interesting The incident passed, but it was not soon for- gotten by either of the two. The freshmen consid- ered Otto as their worst enemy. To them, he was a discourteous, fresh, unkind bully. He proved him- self the most unpopular fellow in the division. Dis- cipline did not hinder or stop him from engaging in his favorite pastime, that of pestering the smaller members of his division group. No one liked him. His teachers took a dislike to his unfair methods of twhat he calledl fun. just before the Christmas vacation even Otto was momentarily forgotten. It had been a hard long grind for the two new boys. They awaited the brief rest with an eagerness that could not be overlooked. A week before Christmas the high school presented a scene of hustling boys bringing canned goods and food products to their respective division rooms. To Harris it was all a mystery- He sought out Johnson to get all of the 'dope'. Eric somehow al- ways managed to get f1rst hand information on all school happenings. UAH right, Billy, I'll explain it to you. It seems that Lane follows a very old custom. That of help- ing out the less fortunate students. The school has done it for many years. Every division room vol- unteers to fill a basket or two of food. Each boy donates what he can. The perishable food products are bought with money which is also supplied by the students and teachers. Only Lane students re- ceive the help. Still other boys give the use of their automobiles to deliver the baskets. In this Way the entire student body helps to make it a merry Chris- tmas for all. If you want, you can bring your dad's car. What do you say, Bill? We need someone to deliver the baskets in our division. Will you do it? Sure, I think it can be arranged. Dad will bring the car over for us?

Page 18 text:

Page 16 The Lane Tech Annual for June, 1935 of all his subjects. For this reason he fiunked in three subjects during the first quarter. Perhaps that is why he became so adapt at signing his father's name on his report card every five weeks. Somehow Sid managed to pass in all subjects at the end of the semester. Eric and Billy fared in somewhat the same way. The three were among the lowest in scholarship in their division. Although Harris received good marks in wood shop and science he did not do so well in the other subjects. And here they saw the plumbers johnson liked the same subjects that Billy did. He received a good mark in wood shop. Epstein did not like anything and therefore barely passed the 1-B semester. just as the newcomers became accustomed to their fellow classmates, rooms, teachers and sub- jects, the new semester began. The filling out of innumerable cards was a procedure which had to be repeated. Again the hubbub and the confusion of incoming freshmen was witnessed by both, teachers and students. New rooms-new faces-new teachers-different courses of study. These were among the first characteristics of the 1-A semester. It was during this year that Harris was the victim of somebody's prank. Billy was eating a cream- filled tart when his arm Was rather roughly pushed by another boy. To his amazement, he realized that the tart and its filling was smeared all over his face! The freshman had an idea the jostling was done on purpose. However, the other lad was a lot older and stronger. Billy let it pass. Then he went to his locker. He discovered that Eric, with whom he shared his locker, was standing near by. 'fWhat are you waiting for, Johnson? Why don't you open it up? 'fYou can open it if you want tof' answered Eric. As Billy made his way toward the locker he saw why Eric had not attempted to touch the lock. That piece of brass was entirely covered with someonels discarded cream tart! A tedious job of slowly re- moving the pastry was now begun by the locker partners. While doing this they realized that they were the 'goats' again. Eric and his friend were among the few unlucky fellows who had classes in portables. Harris, as usu- al, had found everything wrong with the make- shift classrooms- t'The fellow who named these the Fireless Cook- ers' was right about 'em. In the winter time you freeze to death and in the summer you pretty near smother. Together with that, the roof is like a sieve. Whenever there is a storm the supposed tiny holes seem to open up as if to receive the torrent. What do you think of this portable idea, Eric?', i'Well, Bill, you might be stretching it a bit but you are just about right. Remember the cold spell we had the other day? We had to run out of the warm building into a cold portable and back again. Nice way to catch a heavy cold. I hear they have those uCookersl' at Adams and Franklin, too. Sure, theylre all around, but what else can they do with all of the kids? I guess it is the only way out. Oh, well, let's go to science. Harris led the way toward their next class. He had gone half Way around the building when he exclaimed. On the wrong side of the building a- gain. I don't know when I'll ever learn to get around this joint. Odd numbers--this wayfl It was just about this time of year when young Harris was beginnng to get fed up with school life. He was discontented. Yes, he was a student of one of the largest technical schools in the country but what of it? Day in and day out work had to be done-lessons prepared-oral recitations-very lit- Very soon they heard of the radio club tle time for recreation and fun. The work was be- coming monotonous. Harris saw others as he saw himself. All walking around in sort of dim daze. Why were all of these boys coming to high school? Because it was compulsory? Because of their young age? After all, what price education? Sev- eral times he had spoken to older boys who were graduates of high schools throughout the city. They were unemployed. Did their education do them any good? Billy tried to answer these questions