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

Page 25 text:

Science BIOLOGY The general and fundamental conception of conservation is one that can be pre- sented to advantage in a course in biology. The need to conserve, which means to use wisely our wild animal and plant life, in tact, all of our natural resources, is easily- grasped by the high school sophomore and falls naturally within the scope of biology. Natural resources are public assets and are the heritage of each succeeding generation. No normal youth desires to pass on less than he has received of this public trust. Thus, laws protecting wild life, creating closed seasons, requiring licenses, establishing parks, and wise administration of our forests at public expense receive the support of a citi zenry with an adequate conception of conservation. It is a comparatively short step, then, to the application of this idea to one's person. The wise use of school property, opportunities afforded by scluxils. time, energy and health makes conservation a law to live by as it should be. CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS Education has two purposes; on one hand it aims at developing the individual and giving him knowledge which will be useful to him; on the other hand it aims at producing citizens who, be' cause of their habits, ideals and attitudes, will be an asset to the state and nation. Few will deny that most of man's progress in molding his physical environment is a result of his ever-increasing knowledge of the physical sciences, and the application of that knowledge in the field of engineering. Today the man with a thorough scientific training is provided a means of utilizing natural forces in ways not evident to the un- instructed. However, the time spent in studying the physical sciences in high school is so short that their utilitarian values are of neces- sity slighted, but much can be done toward the formation of ideals, habits and attitudes. An essential and unique characteristic of scientific technique is that it proceeds from experiment and not from tradition. It consists in observing facts that will enable the observer to draw conclusions or discover laws governing other facts. Students are often asked to reproduce their results to make sure they have the correct facts before forming an opinion. In this way science becomes a sort of educated common sense. The doctor uses common sense in treating a patient; the electrical engineer, in perfect- ing the talkies and television; but it is a common sense of which those ignorant of laboratory technique are totally devoid. It is hoped th.it the provision made for lab- oratory practice in high schixil science will provide to some extent this educated com- mon sense. If so, the students will have habits and attitudes which will increasingly enable them to differentiate between facts or laws based upon facts, on one hand, and tradition or wish fulfillment dreams, on the other. Then the effective advertisements will not necessarily lie the ones accompanied by a portrait of a Hollywood beauty, nor will the successful political candidate be the one with the heartiest handshake and the most cigars. GENERAL SCIENCE General science leads the pupil to define and solve his problems by means of orig- inal thinking. Science occupies so large a place in the life of the twentieth century that a knowledge of it is essential to every well-equipped citizen. General science deals with things of our surroundings. It helps with the study of the world. It deals with zoology, botany, physiology, geology, physics, chemistry, astronomy and physical geography. T wenty-one

Page 24 text:

Departments MR HARM ON CONFERRING WITH STUDENTS ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE YEAR An inventory reveals that the Argentine High School is housed in two modern buildings, one of which is new. The laboratories, library, gymnasium, drawing room, auto mechanics shop and cafeteria are new and among the most modern to be found anywhere. The course of study has been extended until a student can major in the industrial arts, commerce, home-making and the fine arts, in addition to the traditional subjects. In a city-wide survey of some of the fundamentals last October, the standardized tests gave Argentine a superior rating in all subjects surveyed. For many years the school has held first place in typewriting. In debate it is second in the Northeast Kansas League. The music, art, clothing, physical education and industrial arts depart- ments are active in their work and the school paper has ranked high in all contests it has entered. The school is proud to be city champion in football and Northeast Kansas League champion in golf. The basket ball season, just closed, found Argentine second in the city. Twenty

Page 26 text:

Social Science GEOGRAPHY People everywhere arc engaged in various occu- pations: farming, fishing, mining, lumbering, manu- facturing, and others. They are led to follow these occupations through the influence of various factors. Geography treats of the adjustments made by peoples in their endeavors to fit themselves with the greatest possible advantage into their natural envir- onment. It is the purpose of this department to show how people have been influenced by their natural environment to live in certain places, to acquire certain characteristics, and to occupy them- selves in certain ways. They must adjust their lives to (1) the nature of the climate in which they live, (2) the character of the land surface, whether plains, plateaus, mountains, or other forms of topography, (3) the quality of the soil, (4) the presence of fuel and other sources of power, forests, minerals, fish, and other natural resources, (5) geographic position. The course creates an attitude favorable to world peace by teaching interdepend- ence of peoples everywhere —by teaching appreciation of the skill of other peoples, and by creating a common Kind of interest. It trains pupils in habits of clear, logical thinking. VOCATIONS The rapidly changing conditions in our civilization make changes necessary in our system of planning, living and thinking. The machine age has caused a division of labor. A generation or two ago there were approximately two hundred fifty different occupations; today there are more than one thousand. Selecting one's life's work is the greatest problem that the boy or the girl must meet and solve. The course in vocations helps the pupil select his life's work by these methods: 1. Extensive reading. 2. Observation. 3. Discussion in class. 4. Questionnaires on self-analysis. Serious endeavor is made to ascertain the student's favorite type of work. “Happy is the man who has found his work. In selecting their careers, the boys and girls are urged to note the following essentials: 1. The opportunities and rewards. 2. The supply and demand in that type of work. 3. The necessary qualifications. 4. The training required. A study was made of the different occupations in Kansas City. The number of employees, wages and opportunities over a term of years were emphasized. The voca- tions in Kansas City were covered quite extensively, as the majority of the boys and girls will remain in this locality. All vocations foreign to this community were given consideration. Career hx klets were made by each student. Each booklet contained the student's reasons for selecting his field of work, newspaper clippings and pictures pertaining to that particular vocation. Reading, observing, holding discussions in class and working on the students' choices of their life work on a basis of self-analysis should lead to a better distribution of labor and greater contentment for all. r wenty-two