Argentine High School - Mustang Yearbook (Kansas City, KS)

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ft ft Although Latin, as a language, is not now spoken by any people, it lives in and through many of our words. More than two'thirds of our own words arc derived from the Latin. Many phrases and words have been carried over into English directly from the Latin, and are still preserved in their original forms, such as habeas corpus, dc facto, post mortem, status quo, exit, stadium, vacuum, radio, quotum, and data. Latin is regarded as essential for students of medicine and law, as many of the terms used in these professions are Latin. The students of science and business will find Latin equally helpful. Many names of articles and commodities on the market have taken their names from Latin words. You are really talking Latin when you talk of Duco paint, Lux soap. Premier salad dressing, Aqua Velva shaving cream, a Corona typewriter, or perhaps you own a Duofold fountain pen, or you may buy Rexall drugs. In the study of a great civilization like that of the Romans, the student learns many interesting facts, which give him a broader and a more intelligent view of life. It is rather enlightening to know that the Romans lived in apartment houses, had water heaters in their homes, built huge aqueducts carrying water for many miles, and made cement like that of the present. For the student who cares, Latin is splendid training. Mathematics SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL “Let no one ignorant of geometry enter here, was, we arc told, an inscription carved over the entrance of the first gymnasium or academy in ancient Athens. “Let no one leave here ignorant of geometry, should be a motto of our modern high school. Why did the Greek scholar value mathematics? The Greeks loved mental gymnastics. Geometry is pure logic; its possibilities for abstract reasoning are infinite. The Greeks loved nature. The laws of nature are the mathematical thoughts of God. The Greeks loved art. The principles of geometry helped to perfect art’s graces. But why does the practical, modern professional or business man urge the study of advanced mathematics? That it is useful as mental discipline, he knows, but that is not the phase in which he is greatly interested, valuable though he concedes it to be. He recog' nizes the fact that the material advantages of our modern civilization are linked with the uses of the formulas of algebra and geometry. The physicist, the chemist, the astronomer, the militarist, the navigator, the aviator, the engineer, each has found mathematics necessary to the development of his branch of knowledge. The designer, the artist, and the architect make constant use of geometric principles. The great industrial organizations are putting expert mathematicians into their plants. We use mathematics in life, therefore it should be studied in our schtxds, is the conclusion the modern man draws. JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL In junior high school mathematics, we try to develop an attitude of accuracy with reasonable speed in the fundamental operations. We also try to develop an ideal of thoughtful, careful, and punctual preparation of all work and to have the pupil check every process. We stress the fact that mathematics functions in real ¥ 1931 Twenty-two

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 ART A general course in art education is planned to de- velop in the student a standard of taste and judgment which will result in an appreciation of beauty in every' day life. This implies a knowledge of the fundamen' tal principles of the theory of art. The course is out' lined to include the various topics necessary for that information. As each unit is presented, numerous problems and projects arc worked out, the paramount aim in every lesson being originality of expression, ex' ecuted with the greatest possible skill the student can command. While the main objective is to develop in all students some degree of appreciation, skill in manipulation, stimulation, observation, and the power of creative thinking, ample provision is made, for encouraging students having special talent. The following list of units has been used in the classes during the past year to aid in an understanding of the nature of the work: I. Composition A study of the laws of order in nature, repetition, variety, interest and balance. II. Color A study of the color wheel with its various possible combinations and the appli' cation of the principles of composition to the arrangement of color. III. Design A study of the principles of line, form and relations and dark and light. Motifs, nature forms, and geometric forms. IV. Lettering Training in a good alphabet, letter arrangement, and its application. V. Representation The training of powers of observation and stimulation of self-expression. VI. Art Appreciation To train appreciation for the fine things of art. Acquaintance with a few artists and their outstanding productions, including picture study, sculpture, and architecture. The Junior High School Course is planned for one semester's study and is part of a general plan of our school in home training. The course includes a brief study of the underlying principles of art, emphasis being placed on the application of these principles to home decoration. LATIN A survey, made recently in a central northern state, shows that since 1921 the number of towns teaching Latin in high schools has risen from 139 to 247. The per- centage of gain of Latin was greater than that of any other foreign language. This survey included these languages: French, German, and Spanish. This shows, that the study of Latin is not on the wane in that particular state, which is probably typical of most sections of the country. Twenty-one

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rg entia tv life and that the laws of mathematics are permanent. We endeavor to present mathematics as an interesting field of knowledge and try to include some of its historical background. Some of the specific aims of our course are as follows: 1. To perform the four fundamental operations with mixed numbers and with decimals. 2. To know the meaning of common mathematical terms such as sum, dif- ference, product. 3. To measure an angle with a protractor. 4. To find the percentage one number is of another. 5. To find the percentage of a number. 6. To find simple interest by the year, the month, and the day. 7. To find by measurement the perimeter and area of a rectangle, square triangle, and circle. S. To find the volume of a box. 9. To open an account in a bank, to write a check and a deposit slip. 10. To find discount and deduct it. 11. To make simple scale drawings and interpret them. This year we have tried to have some creative work in some of the classes. The pupils were asked to make an original drawing and color it as they wished. They also graphed some problem which was of particular interest to them such as the relative cost of feeding the does and bucks of their rabbit hutches, the height of the tallest buildings in Greater Kansas City. I TYPING Most young people who remain in the city, at some FTYv future time will work in a business office. Many rrrk offices require applicants to be able to take dictation in shorthand and to operate the typewriter. There are others who will go to a school of higher learning and it is always an advantage to be able to do one’s own class work on a typewriter. The same theme or paper will secure a better grade when neatly written on a machine. A small number of students find that they are able to work their way through a college or university because of their commercial train' ing. The department has been one of the most successful among high schools of the entire country. This is accounted for by reason of a highly-developed technique in the manipulative arts, typewriting and shorthand, and because of the fine spirit pre' vailing among the students enrolled in this work. A few years ago Interstate contests were won at Kansas City, Missouri, Dcs Moines, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska. A National contest was won at Chicago in 1924, the only national meet the school has entered. In the Interstate contest in 1923, and in the National meet a year later, a novice or one-year writer made the very fine record of eighty-one words per minute. The school has been singularly success- ful in typewriting meets with thirty-four consecutive victories and no defeats. In the Kansas state contest, an annual event sponsored by the principals of the high schools of the state, all records in performance, both in accuracy and in speed, are held by Argentine students. Our graduates have always proved equally proficient in the business positions which they obtained upon graduating from the school, and have filled these places with great credit to their Alma Mater. 1931 i Twenty-three