Junior High School At Louis Pasteur
Memories And Recollections Of Days Gone Bye!
Pasteur Junior High School
Growing up and being a Junior High School person was exciting. For over a decade, the United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in a heated competition; the space race. The space race began in 1957 when the Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik. The Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev and the American presidents Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon all agreed that conquering outer space was very important. Both countries wanted to win to prove their scientific superiority and to show their military strength.
Soviet Premier Khrushchev wanted to show that communist technology was superior. President Kennedy wanted to beat the Soviets to the moon. Speaking about the prospect of sending astronauts to the moon in 1961, Kennedy said, "No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space. And none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish."
1957 & 1957
Eisenhower Doctrine calls for aid to Mideast countries which resist armed aggression from Communist-controlled nations (Jan. 5). The "Little Rock" integrate Arkansas high school. Eisenhower sends troops to quell mob and protect school integration (Sept. 24). Russians launch Sputnik I, first Earth-orbiting satellite; the Space Age begins (Oct. 4).
1958 & 1958
European Economic Community (Common Market) becomes effective (Jan. 1). Army's Jupiter-C rocket fires first U.S. Earth satellite, Explorer I, into orbit (Jan. 31). Egypt and Syria merge into United Arab Republic (Feb. 1). Khrushchev becomes premier of Soviet Union as Bulganin resigns (Mar. 27). Gen. Charles de Gaulle becomes French premier (June 1), remaining in power until 1969. Eisenhower orders U.S. Marines into Lebanon at request of President Chamoun, who fears overthrow (July 15). New French constitution adopted (Sept. 28), de Gaulle elected president of 5th Republic (Dec. 21).
1959 & 1959
Cuban President Batista resigns and flees— Castro takes over (Jan. 1). Tibet's Dalai Lama escapes to India (Mar. 31). St. Lawrence Seaway opens, allowing ocean ships to reach Midwest (April 25). Alaska and Hawaii become states. Leakeys discover hominid fossils
The School
I lived about theree miles from the school and walked there and back every day. It was quite nice although it was built in the 1940's style. It is now defunct and is an "Enriched Sudies" school, whatever that is?
The best part about this school was the fact I took electric shop, printing, woodworking, stage crew, gardening, and metal shop.
Strage Coincidence! I was talking to a gold friend recently and he was born in the west side of LA three years earlier than me. He went to Venice High School. He did go to Lousi Pasteur and he and I remember Mr. Dinwiddie who wa she crusty old metal shop teacher. It was fun remembering all the stuff we did.
The following pictures are circa 2006; the last time I visited the campus.
"Enriched Studies... Sounds like good old LAUSD BS. It wasn't "Enriched" when I was there! It was just a Junior High School!
Louis Pasteur Junior High Circa 2006
