The building itself is hostile: cracked plaster, broken windows, splintered doors and carved up desks, gloomy corridors and metal stairways, dingy cafeteria (they can eat sitting down only in 20 minute shifts) and an auditorium which has no windows. It does have murals, however, depicting mute, muscular harvesters, faded and immobile under a mustard sun.

When I had asked why they were taking English, a boy said: 'To help us in real life.'

During what was presumably my lunch period, Admiral Ass (a Mr. McHabe, who signs himself Adm. Asst.) appeared in my room with Joe Ferone. 'This boy is on proba…

The clerical work is par for the course. 'Keep on file in numerical order' means throw in wastebasket. You'll soon learn the language. 'Let it be a challenge t…