This school year, The Forum reaches its 60th year of publication, and we’re marking the occasion in style. As any good newspaper would, we want to celebrate with what we do best: journalism. So, every month, we’re re-winding the clock and giving you the highlights of six decades of our coverage. We ask only that you sit back, relax, and enjoy a good long look at Latin through the years.
In February 1967, 59 years ago, Latin was still the last Chicago school to close for snow: “The record snow on January 26th left all of the city's schools closed, except for the Latin School. Monday saw 70% of Latin's students back to work, and over 90% of Latin School teachers present.”
In February 1970, 56 years ago, instead of free periods, freshmen had mandatory study halls: “68 of the 69 members of the freshman class have signed a petition asking for privileges to roam freely in the halls, as all the other students in the high school are presently allowed to do.”
In February 1973, 53 years ago, you could say goodbye to your treasured pack of Extra, but only if you got caught: “It has become a dilemma for the administration and the student body. There are two alternatives: that chewing gum is legalized, or that the rule be more powerfully enforced.”
In February 1978, 48 years ago, a professional theater troupe rehearsed in Wrigley Theater: “Folks, that area does belong to Goodman Stage 2, a small Chicago theater company. The decision to rent the space was a seriously considered one.”
In February 1980, 46 years ago, the cafeteria set shocking ground rules: “I'm sure all of you have been saying to yourselves lately, ‘Hey what's happened to all of those great french fries we used to have?’ Well, they have been outlawed in our school.”
In February 1981, 45 years ago, the current two-hour lock-in could scarcely compare to the length of dances: “From eight o'clock Saturday night until seven o'clock Sunday morning Latin School students equipped with tooth brushes attended the overnight dance.”
In February 1984, 42 years ago, students frustrated with checking their grades on four different platforms would have been up in arms with Latin’s assessment system: “Latin policy presently stands, "The final grade (for a course) … will not represent a strict numerical averaging of quarter, semester, or examination grades. Rather, it will reflect the teacher's best estimation of the value of the student's work, taken as a whole, and that whole may very well be different from the sum of the parts."
In February 1989, 37 years ago, the community service requirement far exceeded our 10 hours: “we were now expected to donate forty hours of our time to community service.”
In February 1989, 37 years ago, Latin fielded an unconventional sport: “The Double-Dutch team is an exciting new innovation in non-competitive, intramural sports.”
In February 1991, 35 years ago, pie wasn’t the most out-of-the-box event at pep rallies: “We were bringing eight donkeys into the gym for us to ride on while playing a game of basketball.”
In February 1997, 29 years ago, Starbucks was a lot nearer than North and Wells: “The ‘Cafe’ seats more people comfortably, has a nice view of the lake-front, and a section that has become a makeshift study area for juniors and below. There is Starbucks coffee, Einstein's bagels and many other wonders of the modern world.”
In February 1998, 28 years ago, personal computers would have been a jaw-dropping sight: “There are roughly 400 computers at Latin, of which about 100 are accessible to students at any given time.”
