Kokomo High School - Sargasso Yearbook (Kokomo, IN)

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Attempt to Master Their Own Language is the last year of required English and is devoted to the study of English Literature and more advanced work in composition and grammar. More accelerated work in English is offered in the form of World Literature and Senior Composition. The number of stu- dents enrolled in these and in special or CP courses is indicative of the greater interest being shown in English on the part of the individual student at KHS. A new addition to the department was the reading laboratory. In it students raised their reading rates making homework faster and easier. World Literature is the study of the greatest literary works of the world. Among the selections studied ore two plays of Shakes- peare, The Merchant of Venice and Julius Caesar, The Mayor of Casterbrldge by Thomas Hardy, The College Bible, The Lady of the Lake by Sir Walter Scott. Work was also done in the field of Greek Mythology. Employing many of the methods used in college work, great stress is placed upon the interfjreta- tion of the works studied. This has met with great success since Its Initiation in 1958. Often hailed as the most valuable high school course by col- lege freshmen. Senior Composition was taken by some 200 mem- bers of the class of sixty-two. In this class the fundamentals of writing were perfected in the areas of factual as well as creative writing. Another area which receives much attention is the de- velopment of an ample vocabulary. The crowning achievement of the class was the two thousand word term paper required of each student. These papers ranged in subject matter from hyp- nosis to the principles of communism. Since the major media of communication on the collegiate level between pupil and prof is the written paper, the great value attached to this course is more than justified. Bibles written in many language of interest to World Lit Karl Keck finds after-school hours crowded as he makes up a test Last minute reviewing for a test is done by Jock Aaron and Hans Guni

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Students Find English Complex As They As Mr. Kige and fits the c iment to his fifth period English i busy weekend schedule. efuliy A certain young man showed great promise in the field of science, and he was given a scholarship to one of the famous technical institutions. At the peak of his school development he died, and the world mourned the loss of a great mind and fu- ture teacher. In the same light we deny ourselves the fruit of many great minds when we teach our children the laws of the universe and the classics, but neglect to give them the means of passing this knowledge to future generations. In truth we impose a sort of death upon potential Einsteins and Shakespeares. Educators cry for greater emphasis on English with which they hope to do away with this mute race. In a word, fluency is the over-all goal of the English Depart- ment at KHS. In the written, fluency is developed through writ- ing. Students try their hand at book reports, essays, original stories, and poems, and many other forms of writing. Motivation for the written word is found in the study of the great writings of the world. By studying the classics, we also gain a broader field of knowledge and attain a more open mind to other schools of thought. Along with this fluency, a skill in the interpretation of writing was achieved. Although there is a separate course to develop fluency in the spoken word, some oral reports are given in regu- lar English classes, and class discussion plays a major role in the more advanced courses of the senior year. All students enrolled in Kokomo High School ore required to take three years of English and literature combined. English on the freshman level is divided into two separate semesters, one of which is devoted to the study of grammar and composition and the other to the study of various types of literature. In the flrst year of high school, special classes for gifted students ore offered. In the sophomore year the CP class is introduced. The study of grammar continues, but American Literature replaces the general literature book of the freshman year. The junior year studies Mr. Kiger ' s English assignment.

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KHS Welcomes Journalism to Curriculum lewly formed Journalism class takes notes newspaper. They also learn to write yearboi and editorials for the Visiting the KHS print shop. Making its first appearance at KHS this year was the Jour- nalism class. Under the leadership of Mr. John Bond, the students learned to express their own ideas and to write in such form as to be understood by the average reader. This one-semester course was offered to juniors and seniors, especially to those interested in the school ' s publications or in journalism as a career. Centered around the school newspaper and yearbook work, newspaper critiques end stories for the Sargasso were written. Other activities included a visit to the KHS print shop, a scrapbook containing examples of types of newspaper stories, and a visit from an editor of the local news- paper. Under the direction of Mrs. Mildred Kern, the Speech classes studied many aspects of public speaking. In this course, fluency is acquired both in everyday conversation and formal speaking. Reports, speeches, reviews, and memory work were presented to the class by all students. Through experience students devel- oped their speaking skills by learning what to soy and how to say it. They learned to put emphasis on important words and to develop a pleasing, smooth-running tone of voice. These classes help students to overcome stuttering and stage fright. Students gain both confidence and poise. ed speech for Speech doss is Mary Newlir