Hicksville High School - Comet Yearbook (Hicksville, NY)

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HHS Teachers Are Human If Nothing Else Students think of teachers as people who come into rooms crowded with young people, talk at them for forty-five minutes, and then run to the faculty room to smoke and forget. Teachers think of themselves as glorified clerks, periodically swamped in registers and report cards. Although it may often be difficult to remember, teachers are ordinary people. They are not so dedicated to ed- ucation that they are impervious to anything ex- cept academics, nor are they teaching because it is the easiest thing for them to do. They are not machines impersonally giving out the grades that are so important to their students, or extremely sympathetic people showing their partialities to large numbers of impressionable youths. They are men and women with the same problems and pre- judices as everyone else. Teaching, it has been said, is an art, not a science. Scientific principles may be applied to teaching, but a scientific relationship between teacher and pupil is inadequate and undesirable. A teacher must be orderly and precise in planning and presenting his material, but this does not make him scientific. Teaching involves human val- ues and emotions, neither of which can be sys- tematically evaluated and employed. It is more like painting a picture than producing a chemical reaction. A teacher must realize that it all cannot be done by formulas, and must be willing to put all his heart into his work. Devotion is what makes a good teacher. And, despite all the griping that they do, the teachers at Hicksville High are devoted. It shows in their willingness to speak with their students after class about topics that may have nothing to do with the course. It shows in their concern about district and school policy. And it shows in the fact that they stay to teach even with all the hard- ships that they must suffer to do so. SOME, VERY EXPRESSIVE . . . Many of the faculty displayed a real enthusiasm for their work. Mr. Pellerin (left) was, of course, a xesty man as a conductor. Mr. Jones (above) was quite a moving history teacher. 19

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IN A VARIETY OF SHAPES AND SIZES . . . The HHS faculty displayed a remarkable diversity. Mr. Ericson {above) gave pointers on art, and Mr. McCarty {upper right) was fond of pointed speech. But not enough of the teachers were lucky enough to have a few com- pletely absorbed students as Mr. Shanley {right) did. 18

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These educators led us through . . . Mr. Aaron Mr. Abt Mathematics Music Math Club Dr. Altobelli French Mr. Arnold Mr. Austin Mr. Avcdesian Mr. Bannon Choral Music Business Comet Shop Chemistry English artistic endeavors . . . COMING TO THE RESCUE . . . Miss Jonason attempts to save Elsa Green from the tribulations associated with the study of art. Hard work and a touch of genius are qualities found in every artist. Looking to the Art Department of Hicksville High, one can only gaze in bewilderment at the success in production of fine art work by the teadhers and students of this department. In spite of a lack of supplies, our gifted art staff was able to impart to tneir students their understanding of the workings of art. Whether blessed with an over abundance of supplies or not, the department steadfastly maintained its traditional goals—to help students interested in art to learn its history, its forms of expression and to pro- vide experience in several media. The courses offered range from those basic enough to kindle the novice’s interest, to the advanced courses provided for the career-minded student. Basic art teaches the long history of art and the development of styles while offering the student a chance to dabble in almost all media. Students then move on to fashion design, water color work, oil painting, design and illus- tration, interior decorating, and other interrelated courses. In these classes students have a chance to do concentrated work in a single medium, thus developing a specific skill around which to build a satisfying future career. There is an electric atmosphere present in the art rooms that is not found anywhere else in the building, created by the mingling of the broad cross-section of students found there, by the distinct aromas of oil paints, of turpentine, of clay, and by the excitement of invention. These rooms are like an artist’s garret, a place to lose oneself in the unique thrill of creativity. 20