Eighth Grade at PS 44 and Parole Extensions
Lee entered the eighth grade at Public School 44, with his parole set to expire ten days later. Mrs. Oswald telephoned the probation officer on September 24, claiming Lee was well adjusted and that her court appearance was unnecessary; the parole was extended to October 29 pending a school progress report. The report was highly unfavorable: although Lee attended regularly, his conduct was unsatisfactory, he refused to salute the flag, did little work, and spent time sailing paper planes around the room. Justice Sicher extended parole to November 19 and directed referral to the Berkshire Industrial Farm or Children’s Village.
November 1953 Court Hearing and Big Brothers Referral
After Mrs. Oswald’s visit to the school, Lee’s behavior improved and he received passing grades in most subjects, though teachers noted he was “quick-tempered,” “constantly losing control,” and “getting into battles with others.” At the November 19 hearing, despite Mrs. Oswald’s request that Lee be discharged, Justice Sicher continued parole until January 28, 1954, and directed the probation officer to contact the Big Brothers counseling service.
Big Brothers Visit and Unauthorized Relocation to New Orleans
The Big Brothers caseworker visited the Oswald home on January 4, where he was cordially received but told by Mrs. Oswald that continued counseling was unnecessary; she pointed out that Lee attended the West Side YMCA every Saturday. The caseworker observed that Lee was plainly “displeased with the idea of being forced to join various ‘Y’ organizations.” Mrs. Oswald announced her intention to return to New Orleans and was advised to obtain Lee’s release from the court’s jurisdiction. Multiple warnings were given to Mrs. Oswald not to remove Lee from the jurisdiction without court consent, prompted by her fear he would be retained in custody. Without further communication to the court, Mrs. Oswald and Lee returned to New Orleans before January 10.
March 1954 Case Dismissal
The New York court dismissed Lee’s case on March 11, 1954.
Beauregard Junior High School Years
Lee and his mother initially stayed with the Murrets at 757 French Street in New Orleans. Lee enrolled in the eighth grade at Beauregard Junior High School on January 13 and completed the year without apparent difficulty. He entered the ninth grade in September with mediocre but acceptable marks. On October 1954 achievement tests, he did well in reading and vocabulary but poorly in mathematics. On his June 2, 1955 “personal history,” he listed favorite subjects as civics, science, and mathematics; least favorite as English and art. His vocational preferences were biology and mechanical drawing, with post-high-school plans of “military service” and “undecided.” He listed reading and outdoor sports (especially football) as recreations and answered “no” to whether he had any close friends in school.
New Orleans Social Behavior and Reading Habits
Those who knew Lee in New Orleans remembered him as a quiet, solitary boy who made few friends. He was briefly a member of the Civil Air Patrol, considered joining an astronomy student organization, and occasionally played pool or darts with his friend Edward Voebel. He read extensively, including Communist literature from the public library, and walked or rode a bicycle, sometimes visiting a museum. He was not unusually argumentative or belligerent except with his mother, but did not avoid fights, which came frequently perhaps due to his aloofness and traces of a northern accent. His only close friendship, with Voebel, arose when Voebel helped tend his wounds after a fight. Friends of Mrs. Oswald thought Lee was demanding and insolent toward her and that she had no control over him.
Mother’s Employment and Lee’s Part-Time Work
While Lee was in the eighth and ninth grades, Mrs. Oswald worked first at Burt’s Shoestore and then at the Dolly Shoe Co., where she was a cashier and salesclerk, remembered as pleasant and a good worker. At her request, the company hired Lee part time; he worked there, mostly on Saturdays, for about 10 weeks in 1955. On his school “personal history” he listed himself as a “retail shoesalesman,” though his employer recalled they had tried unsuccessfully to train him as a salesman and that he had in fact been a stockboy.
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