Braintree High School - Wampatuck Yearbook (Braintree, MA)

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I The list of aciideinie subjects offered at Braintree High School is sufficiently wide and varied so that every student at any level of learning can find some field of interest. The English ])rograin of study is fashioned on a three level basis to accommodate the college, non-college, and remedial grou])s with two electives in speech and dramatics. . t each level pupils have a wide choice of cour.scs in literature, busine.s.s English, remedial work, comi)osition, free reading, journalism, and grammar review. All courses strive to broaden pu])il interest and a])preciation ; to develop the habit of clear orderly thinking; to teach correct and effective u-sage in written and oral composition; and to give an oj)j)ortunity for creative expression in the various literary fields. The courses in the Social Studies group follow a twofold pattern; that of studying and understanding the great .social aiul ])olitical movements of the past in both United States and World history; and that of understanding our local government and its basic political, economic, and social ])roblems. The.se cour.ses tend to give pupils a knowledge of the cau.ses of pre.sent conditions with emphasis u{)on the causes and results of the two world wars, and a thorough understanding of the es.sentials of I’nited States history. The Science department covers many fields and gives the student an essential back- ground for college work in the sciences. The college cour.ses in physics, biology, and chemistry are .set up for college preparatory ])U])il.s who desire a background of laws of the sciences. The general cour.ses in the .sciences are exploratory and are intended to develop .scientific minds and interests and their effect on our everyday life and environ- ment. Mathematics is a neces.sary jjortion of many other studies in high school. There are two ty])es of mathematics; one for the college preparatory student, and one for the student who will u.se his mathematical background in the fields of the industrial arts and busine.ss. Mathematics not oidy teaches the fundamental skills of working with numbers, but also the recognition of everyday rea.soinng. High .school mathematics gives the pupil a good foundation in elementary mathematics. The courses .set up in the Busine.ss department are designed to familiarize the pupil with the fundamental ])rinci])le.s of business. If followed all through high .school, these cour.ses teach enough skill and technicpie to establish a ])U])il in various business offices, ( ' ourses jirovide training in all ])ha.se.s of business, commercial geograj)hy, and business law, thereby providing ])uj)ils with a study of the economic world and its effect on our lives. All girls should be interested in the Home Economics. In this department girls are trained in home-making and its related subjects. The girls study food and clothing and all subjects concerned with the establishment and function of a home. The course may be taken by a girl for her own per.sonal u.se or for a basis in consumer buying. The Art department offers cour.ses for pupils interested in art as a background for industrial work or for pu])ils interested in interior decorating, fashion designing, and other related subjects. A study of lettering, dimensions, color, and the fundamentals of design with problems designed to fit everyday living is made by the ])upil. The courses in art are cpiite advanced and will furnisli a ])upil with an excellent foundation in art. Industrial Arts helps many students get started in a field which they later make their life’s work. Pupils taking the shop course also take related courses. Boys taking the major shop course s])end one-third of a year in each of three different shops in their freshman and sophomore years. This gives them experience in all six sho])s in two years. Then in their junior and .senior years they may elect the shop subjects they wish to specialize in for these years. (’ourses in Erench, Latin, and S])ani.sh are offered the student at B.H.S. The.se cour.ses aim to te.ich ])upils a fundamental vocabulary and the necessary basic grammar to enable them to read, write, s])eak, and understand these languages. The study of the.se languages is accom])lished through pictures, maps, radio, records, and songs. The study of foreign languiges hel])s the ])U])il to understand the cidture and customs of other peoples. Braintree High School offers a very comjdete music program. This program consists of both vocal and instrumental work, with a related course in the art of writing music. A course in music a])preciation is offered ])upils who wish to study and understand the works of great masters like T.schaikowsky, Bizet, and (Irieg. There is also choir and glee clubs for j)upils who like vocal work. The choir is a highly selective group but any- one may join the glee club. . 11 in all, there is much to interest the ])upils in their high .school.

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Pliyllis Kimball Beverly Jones 111 the academic field Braintree High School ofl’ers many student opportunities for participation in varied programs of endeavor, both as individuals and in groups, which prove valuable to the pupils in their mature life. Jdie first such opportunity is the Braintree High School cpiarterly magazine. In 1921 it was only fitting at “Wamptown High School” that there should he a student publication called The IVampatuck. Miss Elizabeth Batridge founded this magazine and acted as faculty adviser. Miss Avis Walsh, followed by Miss Helen Donovan, served as faculty advisers until 1931. Miss Constance F. Steelier has served as faculty adviser for The Wampatiick since 1931 and as adviser to The Yearbook since its founding in 1935. In this year the fourth issue of the (piarterly became the high school annual. This (juarterly magazine provides a means for the publication of stories, poems, news features, and sports events written by the pupils. The Yearbook and The UPmpatiick provide a source for student group experience in the organization, gathering, and preparing of news and in the solicitation of advertising from local merchants. As a result of journalistic experience obtained on the Braintree lligh School publications, many students have earned places on the stalfs of their college annuals. Several trophies have been awarded to The Wampatuck in recognition of excellent writing done by staff members: 1921-5 Best All Bound School Paper; 1931 best school magazine; 1935-6 — best school magazine; 1936-7 — first prize for best school magazine; 1937-8 — First Award for best yearbook class C; 1938-9 — Honorable Mention as runner up for best school magazine; 1910-11 — First Award for best yearbook; 1912 — special art award; 1913 — best literary magazine; 1917-8 — Honorable Mention as runner up for best school magazine; 1918 — best sports story and best illustration; 1919 — best poem and best editorial; 1951 best poem. Another pupil opportunity is the relatively new organization at Biaintree High School, the Student Council. This student body was encouraged by several members of the faculty, while final plans were formulated in 1918 under the direction of Mr. William F]. Trainor, then a member ol ' the social studies department. For the past five years the Student Council has been presided over by Lennart Bingfpiist ' 18, Eric Maslen ' 19, Bobert Brooks ' 50, John Leva ' 51, and Bichard Brooks ' 52. Two faculty advisers are elected for a two-year period to meet with the Council and give minor recommendations and suggestions. Mr. Trainor served as adviser in ' 18, Mr. Trainor and Miss Marion Billings in ' 19, Miss Bil ' ings and Mr. Harrison Jordan in ' 50, Mr. Jordan and Miss F]dna Parker in ' 51 and Miss Parker and Mr. Arigo LaTanzi in ' 52. Council members present student problems to the principal and faculty for the purpose of solving them and of bringing a closer understanding between the two groups. W orlhw Idle projects have been conducted for student and school benefit. Council members meet with home room representatives once a month to discuss current problems. The Student Council and the faculty have demonstrated continually the democratic principle of (o-operation. The Library Staff of Braintree High School is one of the im{)ortant organizations which receives very little publicity. The staff consists of pupils who are volunteers willing to devote their free periods to pi ' il ' orm such tasks as stamping current magazines, filing catalogue cards, charging and discharging books, taking attendance of study groups, and assisting in many routine duties. The Library Staff has existed at Braintree for twenty-five years under the supervision of Miss Miriam Marsh and since 1928 under the present librarian. Miss Buth P. Strout. The staffs receive no academic credit toward graduation. (iuidance counseling began at Braintree High School in the depths of tlie depression in 1932 when students were groping for assistance in finding odd jobs. Tbe purpose for counseling is aiding a student to plan for, and succeed in, a course leading to a life ' s work. Tests and ratings came into use to discover aptitudes, interests, and personalities. The counselors ' function is to aid in this process, but tbe decision in every case is left to the pupil. This function of “guiding” rather than advising or directing is the chief merit of the art. The guidance department has grown from a fragmentary object to the 1952 plan under which each student obtains a scientific interview based on all available data. The guidance personnel include: director, Mr. (I. inton Jones; secretary, Mrs. Diane Bobertson; Dean of (lirls. Miss Buth Strout, counsellors: Mr. Edward Oakman, Miss Marion Billings, Miss orma WOlf, Mrs. Shirley Inman, and Mr. Harrison Jordan.

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