Parker High School - Parker Pine Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

Page 32 text:

FROM AN INDIAN TO A CITIZEN IN TWELVE YEARS, OR THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A. SENIOR CAII rights reserved and all facts falseb Twelve Iong and pleasant years ago a young, a very young man started his career as a scholar, in fact, now that I think of it, this man was hardly more than a boy seven years old. But he was a big boy, for wasn't he starting to school? ,lust think, First Gradel Gee, playing Indian was sure fun, but learning to read was really hard. Those words like Thanksgiving were pretty bad to have to sound out. I guess he must have gotten by, because next year they put him in Second Grade. Gosh, whoever said a boy has no worries must have been cracked. Those multiplica- tion tables were the worst things I ever heard of. The addition was all right, but that awful multiplication was too much. Then, as if I wasnit working hard enough, why, I only got to play outdoors in the afternoons! I was in a Morning Exercise, too, just think, all the children in the school were going to be there, and I had to recite a poem. It wasn't so terribly bad after all, it was kind of fun after the scaredness wore off. Third Grade was stacks of fun, all except the spelling. Studying about Chicago a Iong time ago was swell. The Santa Claus Party was keen, 'course I don't believe in Santa Claus anymore, but I wouldnit tell the little kids. Then Miss Davis was awful nice in Fourth Grade and learning all about the Greeks was interesting. Parker certainly has good basketball teams. It was just through luck that Latin won 35-IQ. The boys that play are all real big, too. You sometimes can see them in the halls with a HI-7 on their sweaters and everything. Fifth Grade is the tough one. Dr. Lukens is kind o'crabby at times, 'specially if you don't get your slips in on time. I've got seven out now and I guess I'II never Iearn those 'lmile streets, anyway. Well, I Finally got all those slips in, even if I did only get one HQ. K. all year. And here I am out in a portablel Some of the guys like girls, but theyire just sissies. I know, and when we play stinggo before school, they're always tryin, to show off. The seventh grade beat us in football once Iast week, but we'Il take 'em this week, I was elected captain. I am still in a portable, but heck, I like it better than the building anyway. Sev- enth Grade is really pretty high up, in two short years I'II be in high schooll We're studying about the Pharaohs in Egypt now, and earlier in the year we found out about prehistoric man. Parkers football teams aren't so good, I'Iarvard really ran through us, Q7 to O. Wait till I get to high schooll But l'm sort of small, maybe I won't make the team my first two years at that. Back in the building again to finish grammar school. I'm actually growing up. CNext year l'lI wear Iong pants, if mother lets mel I didnit think dancing would be any fun, but it isnlt half bad. That first party that I ever went to ata girI's house was a pack of fun, wish I hadn't had to be home by nine-thirty. Those newspapers that we put out every two weeks are a lot of work, but I guess they're worth it. Some of the jokes we had in our last edition were pretty good, I was editor that week, I-Ioly smokes, High Schooll After all these yearsl I certainly used to be a kid. Guess I'II join the Weekly, it seems like a good organization, and I wouIdn't 28

Page 31 text:

12th GRADE SNAPS T011 lu lmllrnn, left lu right! .-XDELMAN I'A1 rIioN IMTTISON KUHLMEY. , IXIESBINGER, PLOTKINQ CQALT. NIONAGHANQ Sonar. . Moomcg Kuunmsvg STERN , MOORE, NIESSINGERQ Juionsg NIANDELBAITM, REDMOND lY10NA-KGHANQ GALT, NIONAGHAN 27

Page 33 text:

mind being editor. The work in l'l. S. is no snap, that Latin steals more sleep than any two people. Up every night until one, oh well, the First hundred years are the hardest. That Sophomore Prom was O. K. Qur grade ought to give one. I don't think the students should be allowed to throw pennies on the stage at the Forum. CWonder what would happen if I did it? Oh well . . Was that new girl in our room swell lookingl l.et's see, she'Il be in our room lor the next three years. I certainly would like to take her out. Student Government isnlt so bad alter all, that study-head didn't bring me up lor knocking that inkwell onto his lap. The girl's name is Shirley. Those Football players aren't so terrible at that and do they tacklel Glad l'm with the All-Americans. Wish I had enough nerve to ask her out. Basketball isn't too much lun, but it's good exercise. l'm going to take her to a partyl Spring: A young man,s lancy lightly turns to thoughts ol love. l'II call her up and ask her to the last Prom ofthe year. l2ogersl9arlc 2313, yes please. l-lello, may I speak to Shirley? I-lello, eh, oh, it's nice out, wasn't it? Yes, we won in baseball today, that puts us in sixth place. Yes, that's last place. Say, eh, eh, ah, oh, would-that is, could-you-well, I mean-that is- ah nuts, do you mind going to the Prom with me? What? You'd like to? Gee, that's swell. Eh, ah, well, l've got to go and do some home work. So long. As if I could workl May Day was the best in a long time. l'lelen Taylor made a nilty May Queen. The Prom was marvelous! Finals, and do I have to craml Wonder if she'll write to me this summer. A junior, high school half over, how time Flysl Maybe Shirley's not so hot alter all, but she's the best looking babe in school. This year I seem to have Solid Geo- metry to haunt me. What a subjectl Who cares what for whyb the Formula ol a cone is? I wish it were cone but not lorgottenf' I wouldn't mind kissing her, but I haven,t the nerve. Football is not bad this year, I hope I make the team next season. If it weren't For Solid and Shirley, I wouldn't have to worry about anything. The Weekly takes a lot ol time besides. l'lad a small part in the Forum and the rest ol the time threw pennies. Went to ask her to the Junior Prom and Dick already had, That rat. I didn't want to kiss her anyway. I guess I'lI take Betty. Final exams again, and llm really going to hit them. l've always looked up to the seniors, lor twelve years l've thought how grand they were and at last l'm one myself. It hardly seems true, I can't, somehow, realize that I am one. It can't be true that I won't be at Parker next lall, still, every year I see them go. Preparing lor the Senior Plays already. Yes, we're going to give The Rivals. l'm on the lootball team. Latin QO, Parker O, North Shore 6, parker 'l3, My arml why did I have to hurt it alter all these years ol anticipating? Out ol the Todd game, well, l'll work on the paper and forget, or try to. Girls-who cares about them? l'm a senior, a big-shot, and leaving Parker this spring. Santa Claus Party once more, only now l'm taking a First grader, not being taken. The last Forum I shall ever participate in is over and l'm supposed to go out and dance afterwards. Who shall I take to the Senior Prom? The last Parker prom I shall ever attend as a student. Does it matter? A high school baseball captain CI always wanted to be oneD, and school's almost Finished. Chem is the sticker this year, if he would only cut clowning in class. Final exams once more and the end. From an Indian to a Citizen in twelve yearsl 29