50 YEARS AGO

Criminology a class elective

The teacher asked the students if they were juvenile delinquents. The students, between smart-alecky comments, said they were not. It was a typical day in Walter Barabasz’s criminology class in Ballston Spa High School, one of four electives offered in the social studies department, part of an effort to make education more relevant for both students and teachers. “Criminology has become a pressing problem. These kids will be making the decisions someday. Maybe there won’t be another Attica,” Barabasz said.

Other courses offered were cultural anthropology, psychology and sociology. All of them were drawing increasing numbers of students registering for classes in women’s lib, interviews with ex-convicts and case studies of the Navajo.

Looking Back is compiled by C.J. Lais Jr. and Azra Haqqie. Questions? Call Tim Blydenburgh at 518-454-5421.