Member-only story
The not-so-good days
The Unwed Mother’s School Made Them Take Me Back
I was the first unwed mother to return to regular Chicago Public School
“Some things just couldn’t be protected from storms. Some things simply needed to be broken off…Once old thing were broken off, amazingly beautiful thing could grow in their place.”
― Denise Hildreth — Deceptive Cadence
Fifteen and Pregnant
One of the most unusual times of my life was when I was fifteen years old and pregnant. I was an honor and advanced placement student. Back then, they did not allow sinful, pregnant girls to go to school with virgin schoolgirls.
So… I was transferred to the bad girl pregnant school: a train ride, and two bus transfers from my home. My first day at the school was interesting.
The unwed mother school received students from all over Chicago without their records. The school records could follow as late as four weeks after the girls started attending the school. So, the school tested new students when they arrived to place them in classes. My first test day went like this.
“Miss Crowe, here is the arithmetic test. I will be back in an hour to see how you have done. If you cannot answer a question, skip it.”
