Ham on Rye

Henry remembers flirting with a girl named Lilly Fischmann in his biology class. When the time comes for their exam, however, the students realize they have not learned anything. The ineffective teacher Mr. Stanhope cannot stop the students from consulting their textbooks. When Lilly pulls up her skirts and shows her legs, Stanhope sits down, “utterly defeated” (99). The machine shop teacher is Pop Farnsworth. The male students hate the class, and they distract Farnsworth with dirty jokes.

Henry’s favorite teacher is Miss Gredis. She teaches English, and Henry stares at her legs during class. The male students speculate about how they would have sex with Miss Gredis. One day, a boy named Richard Waite begins masturbating in English class. Since no one says anything, he repeats the act in every English class. At the same time, Henry comes to resent an intelligent and “pretty” boy named Harry Walden (107). Henry cannot understand why the bigger boys pick on him but not Harry. He resents the female attention directed at Harry. Rumors spread that Harry is in a relationship with Miss Gredis. One day, Henry sees Harry’s seat empty. He learns Harry died by suicide. Miss Gredis gives the lesson as usual while Richard masturbates at the back of the room.