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.

Fred Christy and Frank Carney discuss life, family, youth, and demographics in Chicago. Includes Studs Terkel interviewing a group of teenagers who call themselves the D.J.'s. about their life and ambitions.

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.

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

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.

Mrs. John B. Allen recalls stories from Jane Addams' "The Long Road of Woman's Memory" and "Twenty Years at Hull House". She also recounts her own personal stories of Thanksgiving and Christmas at Hull House as well as her own volunteer service with The Immigrants Protective League. Jane Addams advocated for shorter hours, child labor laws, women's suffrage, youth, and peace. She prejudged no one and saw individuals as having various needs, desires, and each with their own gifts. She found reassurance that life is good through the spirit of youth. This interview ends at 45:03.

Even though his life was threatened, when a young man told him his goal in life was to see Davis dead, Sergeant Garland Davis, continues to work in the youth crime division, in the hopes by be-friending the young people, they will do something positive with their lives. Davis also adds that the parents of these young people, along with the communities in which they live, play parts in the youths' behavior.

An officer with the Chicago department, Sergeant Garland Davis, talks about his presence in the community, in hoping that some of the young people he works with see him as a friend and not solely as a cop. Davis also talks about the priority being helping the youth before their lives take a wrong turn into a life of crime.