Central High School - Black And Gold Yearbook (Providence, RI)

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bg . .,, .bmi .v gy, 1 I ,Q gf 1 -r . . 7 1... ' W H s my . tn.. 5' S,.?:b1 4. 'xx -A v k W- aj, 1 4' ,. V. 'sv . Q if tk i . -f as :t 4 Ig Q 1 -, ' 1 , gn Qs n s!b,tk.r it .. 03' gif, fa , . i 'z O41 t Q5 Q. nv L' fiiwyez 'f'1.f.. M. X' Q , fm? . ages. ,fs .6 w 5 aww' Q . . .... Qi H U 'st ,. 'ff' st 2' in ' . ' f ' s 1 , s 'Q ' M We 27s f ifff-we l'!io1o hu toluell Ol-l:ltl1RS Ul ll.XRl'N'l' 'l'l,At,lll R .XSSLN IA l ION l.ttt to iight Xlrs tiilbert l5ennett, Mrs Alexander Gray. Mrs. Henri' .l llamingham. Di Walsh, Mis Rolwit li Duranti n - Parent-Teacher Association An ttnusually successtul years worls has been com- pleted hy the Central High School Parent-'lieacher Asso- ciation under the efncient leadership of Mrs. Henry J. Birmingham. President. 'lihis unit. one of the most progressive in the State Congress of Parent and Teachers, has again heen awarded honors at the April convention. 'lihis year the award was given for the excellence ol' its attendance throughout the 1936-37 season. The l'arentf'l'eacher Association has had for its theme this year. parent education. ln lulnlling this purpose the Association has sponsored a series ol' travel ta'lss. exhihits and lectures At the nrst meeting of the organiya tion Dr. 'lf liranlslin NValsh addressed the memhers on the suhyiect XVhat Parents Should Know Ahout a Senior lligh School. lo celebrate lfounders Day the Parent leacher Asso ciation had for its speaker Mrs. Clarence XV. Bosworth, President of the Rhode lsland Congress of Parents and leachers. 'lihe annual .lttnior lligh School Ciuest Night. the most important event ot' the unit's season. was held January ll. IU37. 'l'he purpose oi' this meeting was to give the parents of entering students an opportunity to learn ot' the various educational offerings oi' the school. l.ieuten- ant lloliert li. MacMillan presented an illustrated travel talk on his recent trip to the nation's capital, XK'asliing ton, D. C Mrs Bosworth and Dr XValsh also addressed the audience. A delightful musical feature was oflered hv the Urchestra, lzxovsi Cilee Clttli. Ciirls' Cilee Cluh and the Band under the direction of Mr. lidward .l. Cirant. Dr XValter ll. liutterheld. and Mr Ci. Richard Carpenter, re spectively. .Q 'lihe lforeign Language Department program was given this year hy the Italian classes of the school. 'l'he large attendance of those who understood that language prompted Dr. XValsh to give a short. muchAappreciated greeting in ltalian, A play. and musical was presented hy the students studying this language under the leadership ol' Miss Carol B. Bogman and Miss Marie C. Catalolli. At the April meeting oi' the organiyation Miss Regina 'lf l.oftus presented an illustrated travel tall-t on the lla waiian lslands. As always. tea was preceded hy mttsical entertainment furnished hy the Music Department ot' the School. A successful hridge was held on the evening ol' April 7. for the purpose ot' supporting the Providence Scholar ship liund and to contintte welfare work in the school. I ln the month ot' May the Home lfconomics Depart- ment held its annual tea with the l'arent-'lieacher Asso' ciation as guests. 'lihe visitors were served and enter tained lay students taking llome liconomics cottrses under the guidance ot Miss Rose lf, l.oet7er. 'lihe evening ol' May 7 held the most important and most successful event ol' the Central lligh School year-- Blacls and Ciold night at Rhodes. 'lihe chairmen ol' the ioint Parent and leacher Committee were' Miss llilda Bradshaw. Mrs. Alexander Ciray. and Mis. llenrv .I liirmingham. ex olhcio. 'lhe students ot' Central High School wish to express their appreciation to Dr. NValsh and the memhers ol' the Parent 'l'eachvr Association for the splendid help, under- standing. and co operation that they have extended to tts during the past vear, and to express ottr wish for their continued success. .litssi-t YN Matutoticio, 'K7

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MUSIC and DRAMA ITHIN the last fifteen years, instruction in music and dramatics has made its greatest progress in our public schools. Only a few years ago music and dramatics were taught almost exclusively by piano and elocution teach' ers not connected with the schools. Parents who wished to educate their children in the fundamentals of these arts were forced to pay for the instruction: and further, to risk the placing of their children in the hands of incompetent teachers. There was a time, thirty-five years ago, when in the month of June on examination day parents came to school to hear their children recite poems. Too, if the class was in fairly good voice, they sang little ditties. This was the extent of their familiarity with the arts of music and the drama. However, a few years later the educators who real- ized the great importance of these closely related accom- plishments began to put their ideas into effect. ln the primary and secondary grades a specific time was required to be set aside for training in music and reading and appreciation. A weekly assembly devoted to recitations and plays were the earliest attempt to teach dramatics. Soon the junior and senior high schools adopted these arts as extra-curricular activities in the form of bands. orchestras, and glee and dramatic clubs. The students professed such enthusiasm and interest that very gradually this extra-curricular work merged into specialized classes. To those students who possessed a deep and genuine aptitude for music and drama and had not the means for satisfying their desires, these classes afforded an almost unlimited opportunity for furthering their education along these lines. It is almost needless to state the import.ance of the work. As a leisure time activity there is perhaps none more enjoying nor more instructive. Too, it had de- veloped to an almost unbelievable extent latent talents which students had perhaps never suspected or dared hope for. Moreover, it has aided the students in dis- covering their fitness for either of these arts as voc.ations. Central High School is one of the most advanced schools in New England, for it boasts a music depart- ment and a dramatic department second to none. Fif- teen years ago music was a once-a-week meeting in large groups which sang simple songs from school books. Drama was limited to a yearly course in public speaking, the study of Shakespeare, and a semi-annual senior play. Today these departments have reached the peak of their success. lt is difficult to believe that at one time our band and orchestra were made up of a few students who played laboriously on inexpensive instruments, as com- pared to their brilliance today. Under competent instructors three classes in music technique have been established. Voice classes were en- volved in order to develop the students' vocal and his- trionic ability. Music theory classes were introduced for the purpose of learning the reading and writing of music, and music appreciation classes were inaugurated in order to bring to the students a deeper and more intimate understanding of composers and their compositions. Similarly, a useful and instructive course is given to students in public speaking in all ll-A English classes, and in IZ-B English classes a thorough course in drama. The place and importance of these arts ranks at the top in Central High School. ln speaking of its suc- cess We must mention the infinite time and patience spent by Dr. Walter H. Butterfield, Director of Music in Provi- dence, R. I., and Miss Florence Bray, dramatic director in Central High School. Dr. Butterfield has endeavoured throughout his life to make music a definite and worth- while part of every school. How well his efforts have been rewarded! Especially have we an example of this in Central High School. To possess in these days of keen competition a band considered the very best in the State of Rhode lsland is no small honor, to be sure. And to be able to point to Boys' and Girls' Glee Club, approved generally in musical circles throughout New England, makes us very proud indeed. Miss Bray, too, has reached success in having achieved a brilliant succession of triumphs in past New England Play Contest Competitions and senior plays of excep- tionally high quality. lt would be improper to conclude this Without a word about Mr. George R. Kenson, stage technician of Central, Under his direction the new stage and lighting equipment was recently installed, and his is the responsi- bility for the staging of all dramatic productions in the auditorium. ' May we not take great pride in these accomplish- ments? With Central High School in possession of such fine musical and dramatic talent as our Theatre Guild members, our Band, Orchestra, Ree's Ensemble and Boys' and Girls' Glee Clubs have, it is certainly not too much for us to say with pride that Music and Drama have truly risen to an extremely important place in Central High School. 8 .

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ADMINIS