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The Lincoln-Sudbury class of 1974 is planning a 50th reunion for later this year. For full details, and registration information, please go here. If you’re interested in learning what exactly it was like at L-S during one of the more unique eras in American history, you should read on. The organizers of the reunion were kind enough to provide answers to our batch of questions, and current members of the Lincoln-Sudbury community might be surprised by what they learn.
1 — What are some of the defining memories the committee has about the class of 1974?
- The senior prank of putting the tires on the flagpole
- Our field trip to see the movie”The Godfather”
- Al Pacino’s visit to the school
- Our championship athletic teams
- We were exposed to the world outside of L-S, which opened the doors for us being more open and less sheltered
- Fearless when it came to sharing ideas, creativity, and talents.
- Smoking areas
- Classmates streaking
2 — What is your greatest hope for this reunion
- Reconnecting with friends and families we haven’t seen in years/decades.
- Reminiscing and sharing memories
- Reuniting for such a important milestone
- Catching up with where people are and what they have been doing since we graduated
- Increased attendance, especially this could be the last of the planned reunions.
- Hoping that people who have never come before come this year
- New friendships
- That the reunion provides a healing component for those who did not feel included, valued, or accepted in school as well as those who didn’t like school.
3 — The class of 1974 attended L-S at a time when there was significant political unrest in the country. What do you remember about your experience at L-S relative to what was happening in the world around you?
- Watergate
- Vietnam war and protests
- Black and white television being brought to classrooms so that we could tune in to the world happenings
- Social Justice initiatives
- Civil unrest
- The draft (L-S boys had draft numbers)
- Impact, protest, inclusion, participation in and the response to the Black Panthers movement
- Busing issues (For me it was the people of Boston not wanting to be forced to attend the schools in South Boston and vice versa. The attitude is why move from a poorly equipped school in my neighborhood to an equally poorly equipped school in another neighborhood. METCO was different.
- As a METCO student, I remember my neighborhood being shut down due to civil unrest, cars being turned over, people being assaulted, etc. The people who had to travel through from Peter Bent Brigham and Children’s Hospitals, as well as Boston College and Northeastern had to be protected, escorted, and guided by officers in riot gear.
- Classmates streaking
4 — What advice would you give your high school self?
- Cherish every moment
- Follow your heart when it comes to post-secondary options
- Take advantage of opportunities
- Listen to your gut
- Make sure to include people who might not be included
- Help make high school a great experience for others
- Stay in touch
5 — What advice would you give to L-S seniors graduating later this year?
- Follow your heart
- Listen to your gut
- Pick a school where you can be you, where you can be happy
- Pick a school that provides individual and worldly opportunities
- Remember, what you think you may be doing in years to come probably will differ from what you are thinking now. Your major may change. As you grow, your aspirations and goals may change.
6 — In your opinion, what made Lincoln-Sudbury unique?
- Ahead of its time
- School pride (even now)
- Open campus
- Module scheduling where breaks could be scheduled in.
- Most of us were able to choose our classes (days, time of day, teachers). Even when some classes were mandatory for some, everyone had some choice.
- Interdisciplinary studies
- Class offerings were often created because of teacher and/or student interests and needs (I was able to get PE credit for cheerleaders based on creating a “curriculum”. I was also able to create a “teacher internship” that allowed me to create a schedule where I went to a local elementary school and assisted a teacher.
- Outward Bound/Outdoor Pursuits/Nimbus program
- Usually/Always in the top 10 of schools during our years
- Opportunities (Academic, Electives, Athletics, Recreational, METCO, Exchange programs, etc.) were extensive and encouraged
- Athletic pride and involvement
- Facilities (visual and performing arts, physical education, library, bookstore)
- Onsite pre-school program with involvement of interested students (I helped with the development and creation of furniture and toys).
- Outstanding Teachers (Diverse experiences, outstanding in preparation, many preferred to be called by first name, teachers cared, out-of-the box thinking, facilitated critical thinking, Available when needed)
- Host families for METCO students (It allowed us to be able to participate in extracurricular activities and have a place to stay, plus gave us “a friend” to help introduce us to the school.
- Late buses for the METCO students so that we were able to participate in afternoon activities that included academic tutoring, athletics, clubs, etc.
- Extracurricular and Co-curricular activities like clubs, opportunities, and festivals like Spring Thing. Many of these opportunities helped us to discover who we were and are and helped us to reach goals and achievements in our lives.
- Smoking areas