I hated grade school and jr high. In grade school, I was teased constantly after 3rd grade. Actually, I was shuffled from school to school throughout grade school and jr high. and in jr. high, the (b) girls wanted to beat me up all the time. They never did but they stole my best friends money every day with the threat of beating her up. In 8th grade, me and Rena (my best friend) started a petition that we did not want to be forced into home ec and wanted both boys and girls to have the option of home ec or shop. Well it worked, i got placed in shop class and all I really remember is being forced to make a tie rack for father's day even though I kept telling him "I don't have a father..don't want to make a tie rack!" He could care less and yelled at me to make a tie rack )can you imagine? what friggen control thing is that about? At about the same time, in the local paper, was a story about a man, Fred Schrumff who had helped open some alternative schools in CO. and he wanted to do the same in CU. (he was 25 at the time, how do young people get such drive and vision?! it's so special..). So 1972 began the pilot program for Urbana Jr high's alternative school. Back then, it was not for troubled kids. Some were, yes, but most of us were just wanting out of traditional teaching! I know I'm not a dummy, but in the traditional school, I was bored and intimidated by the bullies and just didn't want to be there. I remember, in the 8th grade, I wore a green t-shirt that had the women's symbol with the fist in it. Well, I got hell all day long, I was called names, the fact that I didnt have a bra on was pointed out in the teases (age 14- I had no reason to wear a bra anyway but at that age, boys are focused on...). I got a letter from mom to join the alternative school and life was much better when i left the public school. For the next 3 years! After I left, I heard that things changed. Alternative schools were for kids in trouble... The concept changed. I will always treasure my time at Education II (what we named our school). and esp the reuniun we recently had. PS i got p. e. credit for riding my bike to school and back! YES!