BRIGHT FUTURES BEGIN HERE, They were you once, you can become them.

One day in the fall I opened my Facebook page to a post from Karyn Stephenson, School Counselor of School No. 20 in Paterson.  She was asking alumni from School 20 to send in a current picture of themselves and a short biography of their lives since their graduation from School 20 for a “Hallway of Fame”.  Being nostalgic and treasuring my years growing up in Paterson, I immediately sent in my picture and a short biography of my life since I graduated School 20 in June 1967.  I also was a substitute teacher there from 1973-1975.

Thursday morning, April 4, 2019 I climbed the wide staircase on East 37th Street for the first time in 44 years for the unveiling of the “The Hallway of Fame”. The morning began with a short program titled “Alumni Recognition Ceremony”.  Attended by the 7th and 8th grade classes, as well as 15 alumni, the program was in the school’s auditorium. As a ’67 graduate, I was the second oldest alumnus to attend.  A member of the class of 1960, Richard Rossiter was also in attendance.  The auditorium has not changed a bit since my days as a student.  The same wooden seats, faded pictures of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln on both sides of the stage and what looked to be the same black piano to the left of the stage.  Talk about Deja Vu.  Debbie Rich Grossman, my fellow school 20 graduate of ’67 and my date at the 8th grade graduation dance, Ina Cohen Harris who taught there for many years and Marcia Chapman were unable to attend.

The program began, as did all programs in my day, with the Pledge of Allegiance. Speakers included; Karen Stephenson, the Alumni Project Coordinator and Eileen F. Shafer, the Superintendent of Paterson Public Schools.
  
Following the program and the unveiling of the “Hallway of Fame”, I was able to wander the hallways of which I spent 8 1/2 years attending K-8.  I remember each classroom and cherish the  time spent there. School 20 is located on the Eastside of Paterson on 20th Ave between East 36th and East 37th Streets and has gone through a lot of changes. The “old building” pictured above was built around 1900 and the “new building” where the auditorium is located was built in 1926.  An extension was added in 2000.  Classrooms have been added in the basement level of the new building as well.  Wandering these halls brought back many great memories of my time spent at school 20.   

We had a sizable Jewish student population in my days between 1959 -1967.  We were members and attended Hebrew School at Temple Emanuel, Community Synagogue (Hebrew Free School), Barnert Temple as well as Eastside Hebrew Center.  I was a member of Hebrew Free School and had my Bar Mitzvah in the Community Synagogue on my 13th birthday 12/17/66.  I was not the best Hebrew School student and had a tough time as I got older accepting that public school ended at 3:20 and we had to be in Hebrew School by 4.  This was also more difficult during the World Series when they played day games.  I actually played hooky from Hebrew School during my final year and needed special tutoring from Cantor Brock for my Bar Mitzvah, but I made it!!

I thank Karyn Stephenson for organizing the “Hallway of Fame” in order to inform the current student population that there is a bright future ahead.  I am also proud to be a participant.

Respectfully submitted, Jerry Klein, Advisory Board Member JHSNJ