Central High School - Blackhawk Yearbook (Davenport, IA)

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ENGLISH All the time spent in English and lit classes giving short talks or participating in round table discussions can be utilized to good advantage in a flight school. Frequent class recitations and speaking before the class will break down the barrier of shyness when it comes to field and drill work in flight school training. Writing is another skill that must be mastered. A pro- spective air officer who wants to succeed must have the ability to write legibly, to fill out forms and follow printed directions, to spell correctly a basic vocabulary, to capital- ize and punctuate correctly, and to write personal letters. Eight English courses are offered the cadets at D.H.S. The opportunities for basic English training are not being passed up—86.4 per cent of those taking training at D.H.S. were enrolled in some English course during this year. Two years of English are required for graduation. After the sophomore year, one more year of English must be elected from one of the following fields of study: MB English, a refresher course for those who fall below the minimum standard at the end of sophomore English; creative writing, for those who enjoy writing plays, poems, short stories, or essays; recent literature, a study of con- temporary writers and dramatists; business English, an explanation of the correct English usage in the business world; journalism, a study of all phases of proper news writing; American literature, the study of essays, poems, short stories, and novels; and English literature, the study of the works of great English authors as far back as Chaucer. Top: Shown in Mrs. Howes' I0A English class ara. left to right: Jean Waago. Bob Hollin, Nancy Bennison, and William Stebens. Above: Members of Miss Finch's I0B English class looking at a model of tho Bastille aro, loft to right: Joyce Donahue, Phyllis Bargmann, Wilmor Blackman, and Jay Fisher. Listening to department rec- ords are the following English instructors: seated on the left. Miss Joan MacDonald; seated on the right, Miss Margarot West and Miss Mabel John- stone; grouped about tho combination , left to right. C. W. Hach, Miss Hortense Finch, Miss Florence Anderson, and Mrs. Helen Bardsley. 13

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. PREPARATORY English instructors aro, loft to right: Frank L. Madden, Mrs, Janice Howos, who substituted the first semostor; Miss Josephine Mirfield, and Miss Elsie Wallace. Membors of Miss Mirfield's I2B college prepara- tory English literature class presont a scene from Macbeth. They aro, loft to right: Walter Hum- mel. Don Shawver, Jeanne Gillon, and Jack Barloon. Looking into the future is the cadet who realizes the value sound English courses in preparation for flight school training will have on his final place in the fight for victory. English in wartime still contains the basic fundamentals, but much emphasis is placed on reading which can bring to the prospective inductee attitudes and understand- ings which will lead him to accept the privations of war as a necessary part of the fight to preserve American ideals and ways of life. As Lieut. John R. Rackley emphasized in his talk to the boys in the spring, Learn your English well, so you can give fast and accurate locations of enemy fortifica- tions and movement. Someday your knowledge of good English may save your life. But there are many more advantages that English brings to the prospective flight school trainee. Orderliness, one of the first attributes of a good serviceman, can be developed through English — in the arrangement of a letter on a page, in taking of notes and assignments, in clear and logical argument, and in well-planned compo- sitions. A man’s success as a soldier, his chances for promo- tion, and his opportunities for leadership depend upon his ability to carry out oral orders promptly and efficient- ly — upon his ability to listen carefully and attentively. In this duty the listening skills are analyzed, carry-overs from the English classroom when simple instructions were given and only those with ears wide-open were able to carry them out correctly. 12

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Extreme right: Mombers of Mr. Schultz's civics class examine a political map of Iowa. They are. loft to right: Jack Richardson. Lois Pauli. Melba Puckett. Dick Gugelmeyer, and Waltor Ozmon. Examining tho globo are June Krambeck, Ran- dall Haddock, and Harvoy Jo- hanson in Mr. Bates' I0B world history class. CADET GLOBAL STUDY SOCIAL STUDIES Ever searching to understand better the meaning of the government of our country, the cadets have realized that the ideals of our government and our way of living lead to a peaceful world for which we are all fighting. A definite swing back to social studies from an intense math and science schedule was evident in the courses selected by this year’s trainees. For those who wish to major in social science studies, three sections of European history are offered. This is a study of European governments, expansion, rulers, and economic crises suffered by those living in the old world before the time of the American independence. One year of American history, required by state law, explains the fight of the thirteen colonies for freedom and their continuous fight to preserve the four freedoms of speech, religion, want, and fear. The right of both men and women in America to vote is a cherished freedom. To vote you must be 21 years of age. As a preview to the years when the cadets will be of voting age, the American Legion has a nation-wide Boys' State project in operation. The social studies department, in col- laboration with the American Legion, takes an ac- tive part in the organization and actual working of the Boys' State movement. First, the caucuses are planned, where the delegates to the general convention are elected; second, the general con- vention nominates the candidates for the various offices; and third, the city election takes place. Before the final wings can be received, all cadets are required to pass through one semester of civics. This completes the I 2 credits of social studies re- quired when the cadets continue their education. Social Studies department mem bors aro, left to right: W. W. Bates. Martin W. Schultz. Miss Lucilio Burianek. Denzil Nelson, Georgo Pottor, N. H. Ringstrom, and Boyd Collins. 14