Latin School of Chicago

Richard Dolezal came to Latin in 1960 to teach English. teacher. She would walk into the room, and you would stand up and say, 'Salve!' And she said, 'considere,' or take a seat. It was quite intimidating. I was a goody-goody because I didn't want anything getting back to my parents. That's how it was. It was a different time. It was quite confined. But it was also a very safe way to grow up." In the early '60s there were some changes to the academic program – 50-minute class periods were introduced, Latin was taught in the seventh grade, new math and the oral/ aural method of French instruction arrived. In 1960 the school hired English teacher Richard Dolezal, who over the next 50 years would be held up as an example of teaching excellence at Latin and for generations of students, teachers and families would be considered the heart and soul of the school. Under Headmaster John MacDougall Graham, who had arrived in 1960, the school officially began enrolling African-American students and hiring African-American faculty. These changes, however, were gradual, and Sally Nye Parris '64, who was still in the lower school when Diana Levin graduated from Latin, described an environment that was essentially unchanged. "It was so tough academically," said Parris. "I don't think I ever got an A in high school. But it also prepared us and taught us discipline. We were trained to work hard and to be organized." At the same time, Parris said, there was an intimacy that she treasured. "We were all close. I loved my teachers, and I loved my Headmaster John MacD. Graham friends. The four of us, my sisters and I, went through the whole system at Latin. In first grade I had Mrs. Marston. She knew how to be gentle, but she was also inspiring. She had all the qualities of a good teacher. Dr. Cordes was too funny. We all loved him. He was a gentleman and a wonderful teacher. Ms. Lawrence, of course, loved drama and the classics. She always had her red suits and hats and liked nothing more than to do a dramatic reading for us." A talented athlete, Parris participated in sports and kept busy with extracurricular activities. She worked behind the scenes for "John Graham was much-loved. He really cared for the students and faculty. The one thing he was very strict about, though, was how people dressed. He paid a lot of attention to how students wore their uniform. I wouldn't have ever worn pants in those days, but I did wear short skirts, which John Graham clearly didn't like. One day he complained that my skirts were too short. I told him, 'That's the style. I can't afford two wardrobes. So unless you want to buy me clothes, this is what I have.' That was pretty much the end of the discussion for me, but I know the students wanted some freedom with their uniforms that they did not get during his time." – Judy Yohe Kritzberg 58 L AT I N MAGAZINE

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