Latin School of Chicago

Background: Latin youngsters with their teacher. "When I came to Latin in seventh grade, I didn't know anyone. No one from my neighborhood came to Latin for high school, I think those who could moved to the suburbs because our high school was in the middle of Cabrini Green. Initially, it was intimidating. My first class at Latin was French. I did not speak French, but everyone else did. My father was a newspaperman, and I wasn't used to wearing a suit and a tie. I would get in trouble for not tying my tie properly. I had to get up at one assembly and tie and retie my tie over and over again. But in a sense the uniform was a good thing. It leveled the playing field. I didn't know what most parents did, the clothes didn't have labels, and there was no real way to show off. I didn't really feel the socioeconomic differences." – Rick Kogan '69 Spanish-speaking population was growing in the Chicago area, there would be an increasing "need for an understanding and working knowledge of Spanish." A computer curriculum was developed, and the math program was broadened. By 1980, enrollment in calculus had tripled from 1973. At the same time, Witman also began work on giving the middle and upper schools their own identities, introducing homerooms for the middle school and an advisory system for the upper school. During much of his tenure, however, Witman focused on financial matters. He managed to eliminate almost $1 million in debt incurred during completion of the North and Clark building. He also made much-needed capital improvements, including adding the fifth-floor gym in the upper school and renovating the lower school. In 1974, after years of pressure from students, Witman suspended the school uniform in favor of a code that required "neat, clean, and appropriate dress." Many parents, trustees and faculty hoped that the more conservative Witman would return order to the school. While tensions eased, they would not completely disappear until the '80s. Meanwhile, Latin School commemorated its 90th anniversary in 1977-1978. The year-long celebration of the school's history culminated with a "Ninety Years Young" party at the Chicago Historical Society, where Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne – with Josephine Wilkins, from the Class of 1907, and Scott Byrne '92 at her side – cut the first slice of birthday cake. As the '70s came to a close and Headmaster Witman announced his plans to move on, Latin School was stronger than it had been in more than a decade. The academic program had evolved with the times, the mood of the school was improving, and Witman had made great strides in putting the budget in order. In the next decade, the school once again would face space issues and the challenges of an underfunded endowment, while at the same time pushing itself even further as an institution of excellence. n Harold Witman Latin's Finders Keepers thrift store raised money for the school LATI N SCHOOL OF CHI CA GO 81

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