Greenville High School - Hi Life Yearbook (Greenville, MI)

Page 21 text:

AGRICULTURE Living in a community in which farming plays such an important role, agriculture is a necessary and worthwhile part of the curriculum. The four years of instruction offered give a broad look into such subject matter as the basic farm crops; the care, feeding, and judging of livestock; and farm management. These courses are supplemented by the activities of the Future Farmers Organization. PHYSICAL EDUCATION Physical education is an important part of general education and has a twofold purpose. First, it attempts to instill in its participants lifelong recreational interests by providing instruction in games, dancing, sports, and corrective exercises. Physical education has its practical side, too, for the students are taught health and safety precautions, such as first-aid techniques, and principles of rigid physical discipline which may be applied to their daily lives. Secondly, physical education courses emphasize the accepted rules of courtesy and sportsmanship and the satisfaction gained from being physically fit. Physical education has become more vital to us in an age when we are so very dependent on machines to perform duties for us which we would otherwise have to do ourselves. Our efforts to create a more formal program of physical education have been greatly stepped up within the last few years, because our government has become concerned about our failure to compare physically with many European nations. At Greenville High School, physical education is compulsory in the first two years of high school and elective in the last two. The program is sufficiently broad to meet the needs of individual students and attempts to maintain a balance between informal recreation and formal exercise. Imogens Jensen, B.S. teaches agriculture received his B.S. at Michigan State University taught 3 years in Denmark and 1 year in Flint has taught at GHS for 2 years advises FFA and the P.A. Club Yvonne Finkhouse, B.S. instructs the girls' physical education classes received her B.S. at Central Michigan University has been at GHS 4 years G Club adviser advises the cheerleading squad Jack McAvoy, B.S. instructs boys' physical education classes and coaches the varsity football team received his B.S. at Hillsdale College taught at Bangor and Dowagiac High Schools is new to GHS this year Richard Smith, B.S., M.A. high school athletic director and physical education instructor received his B.S. and M.A. at Michigan State University coaches the golf team advises the Varsity Club has taught at GHS for 10 years 17

Page 20 text:

COMMUNICATION ARTS A department closely allied with the English department is one which we have chosen, and appropriately we think, to call Communication Arts. As the name implies, the courses in this curriculum deal primarily with the methods and problems involved in Man's communication with Man. Why is the art of communication receiving much more emphasis than it has in the past? Why has it become such a vital part of our lives today? The answer to these questions is quite simple. Civilization has come to depend heavily on mass communication for the interchange of the millions of ideas which keep our world alive. It has become imperative that we realize this, for sometimes our very survival depends upon our ability to understand and be understood by others. The man who does not know how to communicate with his fellow beings is forced to live in a world by himself, one very important factor in mental illness. And lack of communication can also cause economic and social illness. This art of communication has become such an integral part of our lives that we | tend to take it for granted, indeed, we are often not aware of the vital part it plays in shaping world events. A world without communication of any kind would Forrest L. Roosa, B.S. teaches English 9, American Literature, and Speech received his B.S. at Western Michigan University has taught at GHS 5 years directs the All School Play, Senior Play, and Forensics Ruth E. Swanton, A.B. teaches Business English, Advanced Composition, Journalism, Reading Seminar received her A.B. at Central Michigan University has taught in the Greenville school system 14 years advises the Spotlight staff be difficult to imagine. No books, no plays, no music, no phone calls, no letters, no laughter, no congenial conversations between friends, no stimulating discussions-just silence. In such courses as Oral English, Advanced Speech, Advanced Composition, and Journalism,our students are learning how to best utilize their skills in these areas. More important, however, they are learning to appreciate the value of the art of communication and how to keep this precious art from being destroyed at the hands of those who wish to misuse it. ART The study of art is really the study of beauty; it includes not only the drawing, but the appreciation as well. It is not the purpose of our art department to make highly skilled artists of all students, but rather to train them in the powers of observation and to encourage art as the language for the expression of ideas. Students receive excellent instruction in the making of articles of beauty and excellence, but, perhaps more important, they learn to develop standards of taste and judgment which will enable them to enjoy more fully all the beauties of life. 16 Thomas C. Blinn, B.A.E., M.A. received his B.A.E. at the Art Institute of Chicago received his M.A. at Wayne State University has taught at GHS 10 years advises the Art Club

Page 22 text:

FOREIGN LANGUAGE The foreign language department at Greenville High School offers two years of study in both the Latin and French languages. Since all languages are fundamentally alike in their organization, the study of a foreign language can provide a valuable aid to understanding the principles which are basic to many, many languages. Even the appreciation and understanding of our own language can be enhanced through the study of another. Latin I deals with basic vocabulary, pronunciation, and word formation, while the second year is devoted to more complex grammar construction and advanced reading. Although Latin is not a conversational language, it is considered to be of great importance in the learning of living languages. French I also works with basic constructions and French II with more advanced reading, but in both years of study, conversation in the foreign language receives the most emphasis. Both language courses make use of the language laboratory. Using this, the instruc tor can give much more personal attention to the problems of the individual student. MUSIC There are those people who criticize the growing emphasis placed on the role of instrumental and vocal music in high school education. Their arguments that the study of music as a high school subject is Ma waste of time” are perhaps valid, perhaps not. Fortunately for the students at Greenville High School, our educators realize the tremendous value which lies in the study of music, as evidenced by the fact that our music department is one of the finest in the area. Greenville High School is lacking neither in talent nor enthusiasm, boasting four large vocal groups and a marching and concert band. These music groups are well-known for fine performances and spend the year preparing for numerous public appearances. Within each of these large organizations are several smaller ones, whose members play for their own enjoyment and amazement rather than for required class work. At any rate, the 300-odd music students are busy. 18 Naomi R. Clark, B.A. teaches Latin I and II received her B.A. at Central Michigan University taught at Farwell and Brecken-ridge advises the Latin Club assistant Girls' League adviser John Rodgers, M.A. born Jan Radziszewski studied at La Sorbonne in Paris, F ranee received his M.A. at the University of Wilno, Poland, and his Diplome Superieure at the University of Nancy, France taught French and Latin for many years in various schools throughout Europe taught for 2 years in Custer, Michigan is now teaching French I and II at GHS David Gillett, B.M., M.A. directs the vocal groups received both his B.M. and M.A. at Western Michigan University has taught in Greenville for 5 years assists on the coaching staff sings with the Shubert Club in Grand Rapids H. Jerome Martin, B.M. directs the concert and marching bands received his B.M. at the University of Michigan taught at Evart 8 years, Elk Rapids 3 years, and Mendon 2 years has taught at GHS 7 years also directs the junior high school band