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I was there in the midfifties. I see high schoolers today being bused a mile to school. I took the bus along Flatbush Avenue to the IRT station, rode to Atlantic Ave, Walked five blocks to school. About an hour and fifteen minutes twice a day. thought nothing of it.

Great school. Never became an engineer though, as pounding dirt in the foundry was boring as hell.

I am not sure where you've seen High school students in NYC being "bused" to school. I went to Brooklyn Tech between 1994-1998 and had to ride the subway between my home in Manhattan Beach and Downtown Brooklyn everyday. Also, the admittance to the school is based on performance on the same entrance exam you take for the other 2 specialized high schools (Stuyvesant and Bronx Science). I'm not sure where you get your facts but they're wrong.
I had Mr. Ostrin as a teacher and he was one of those teachers that brought out the best in his teachers. His classes were very tough and demanded hard work. That, however, is not a way to determine a man's guilt. There are thousands of great people who have done terrible things and unfortunately this might be another. I agree that he was "touchy-feely" and although I so no ill intent, it is inappropriate for a teacher to hug and kiss his students (even if it is a peck). I feel bad for him because he truly is a great teacher but if he did this, he doesn't belong in a classroom.