Studs Terkel interviews the members of the Walawa Basies: Kelvin Strong, Orlando Lucas, Levon Campbell, and Justine Cordwell. This is an Interview done in two parts

Studs Terkel interviews the members of the Walawa Basies: Kelvin Strong, Orlando Lucas, and Levon Campbell.

Studs Terkel returns to his alma mater, McLaren school, prior to its destruction to gain reactions on the loss of a newly created mural by the school children. Terkel provides the reactions of the student artists who can't understand why they were told to complete the oceanography mural when it was to be destroyed with the building. He also talks with parents, teachers and administrators about this loss. Parents pledge $500 to create negatives of mural to save as photographs.

Interviewing at the Saint Mary's Center for Learning, an alternative school on the West Side of Chicago, with students Theresa Gonzales, Joan Perry, Cheryl Petrats and teachers Janice Eritch, Rozelle Nesbit, Sister Elaine Shuster and a parent, Mrs. Lori Waslewski.

Interviewing Shelby Taylor, Paul Goren, Jean Tucker, Paul McCree from Metro High School in Chicago, Ill.

Terkel interviews journalist/editor/author Lois Wille.

Discussion of Division Street: America

Discussion of Division Street: America

Discussing the concept of DISTAR (Direct Instructional System for Teaching and Remediation) program, the use of phonics to teach children to read, and interviewing Joe Rosen, Betsy Clayton, and Jim First.

Discussing the "Chicago Schools Challenge " and interviewing James Clement, Mrs. Barry Norton, and Pearl Shaw.

Metro High School on the Near North Side of Chicago is only one of three high schools in the country that operates without walls and uses the resources of the city for learning. Four students convey how marine biology is taught at the Shed Aquarium, radio production at WIMD, TV production at Dick Barnett studio WMAQ, drafting at architectural firms and blue collar jobs at factories.

Interviewing Kenny Swader, Demetria Dazzetto, Loreen Mastelewski from Saint Mary's Center for Learning, an alternative school located on Chicago's West Side.

Interviewing author and educator Bill Ayers. Ayers is Professor of Education and University Scholar at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

The D. J.'s, a group of teenagers, discuss their lives, interests, and ambitions. Gladys Joyce Adams and Yvonne Hammond discuss the female youth and youth groups in Chicago. Joyce and Hammond discuss the girl's club the Divine Ladies and other girl's clubs. Christy and Frank Carney in "West Side" (part 3).

Interviewing Frank Carney, Susie Gelaga, Linda (daughter-in-law), Molly (daughter), and Fred Christy. They discuss the youth of Chicago and their own life experiences.