About Our School

LOUIS DEMBITZ BRANDEIS

THE MAN WHO OUR SCHOOL WAS NAMED AFTER

A little about Justice Louis D Brandeis - As a young lawyer in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Louis Brandeis, born into a family of reformers who came to the United States to escape European anti-Semitism, established the way modern law is practiced. He was an early champion of the right to privacy and pioneer the idea of pro bono work by attorneys. Brandeis invented savings bank life insurance in Massachusetts and was a driving force in the development of the Clayton Antitrust Act, the Federal Reserve Act, and the law establishing the Federal Trade Commission.

Brandeis witnessed and suffered from the anti-Semitism rampant in the United States in the early twentieth century, and with the outbreak of World War I, became at age fifty-eight the head of the American Zionist movement. During the brutal six-month congressional confirmation battle that ensued when Woodrow Wilson nominated him to the Supreme Court in 1916, Brandeis was described as “a disturbing element in any gentlemen’s club.” But once on the Court, he became one of its most influential members, developing the modern jurisprudence of free speech and the doctrine of a constitutionally protected right to privacy and suggesting what became known as the doctrine of incorporation, by which the Bill of Rights came to apply to the states.

Louis D. Brandeis was built in 1965 which is when I started High School. When I entered the school, the lunch room was not even completed and more than just several classes where also not completed.  The new smell inside of the school was all around me.  I felt very happy the moment I arrived here.

Everything was new even the new friendship I was about to develop.  I must admit, 10th grade was a bit challenging for me.  I think it has to do with the unknown.  I just needed time to adjust to a new school, new teachers and school work.

I lived on 63rd in the projects they call "Amsterdam Houses".  From my kitchen window I was able to see the old high school which they called the "Annex". There were days when I would just walk to school from 63rd Amsterdam to 85th Street where I would see this sign.  It was a tiring walk and I decided to wait for the bus from then on.

I can say that all of this were fond memories,  I would be lying.  There were many not so fond memories that I would not like to go back to.  I cherish the wonderful memories I do have and remember the wonderful friendships I have made throughout the years. My best friend who I met in 10th grade was Jean Moriwaki. She was 14 and I was 15. We struck a friendship and loved going to her house.  She had a sister, I didn't.  I had a brother.  She was the maid of honor in my wedding and still to this day remain friends with her.

My favorite teacher was Miss Libby Bleaman.  I was 17 and she was 27 and she was close to our age, atleast she acted like us..LOL!  I was in the special program and I know many of you were also, which at the end of the program you were to attend a two year college.  I chose Manhattan Community College and was to study paralegal. Unfortunately, I wound up with a job that summer that allowed me to use my stenography and did not continue on to college (I wish I had now).  My dreams were redirected by my parents.  In those days, we did not dare defy our parents!  Anyway, I had Miss Bleaman for 2 periods of typing, 2 periods of stenography.  Most of my day I would say.  I do wonder what happened to her.  If anyone knows please leave a comment.

UPDATE  Sonia Peralta-Munoz located our teacher Miss Libby Bleaman and she attended our 43rd reunion for Class of 1968 on June 25th, 2011. This is Miss Bleaman in the picture above...click Here to see her picture of how she looks today. 

I would like everyone to post their experiences and what you remember about your first days, friends, teachers, etc. We would love to hear from you!