Kokomo High School - Sargasso Yearbook (Kokomo, IN)

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The Challenging Field of Science ed by Steve Ervington and Gary Waddle Biology, Chemistry, Physical Science, Physics: oil of these subjects ore classified as the sciences, and they are all in- cluded in the Science Department of KHS. This department is a newly created one this year. Before, these classes have al- ways been under the supervision of the Mathematics Depart- ment. The new department is headed by Mr. Douglas North and includes all the teachers who instruct one or more of the courses. Although all of these classes are placed in the same general curriculum, they are very different. Probably the most elemen- tary of the science courses is Physical Science. In this course the students learned about science in general, but did not make a detailed study of any one of its many branches. For instance, a Physical Science student is introduced to elements, compounds, and mixtures, but does not study them as extens- ively as the Chemistry student. Biology, the study of life, is another and probably more elevated course under the heading of science. This course is generally taken during the sophomore year and is divided into two semesters. The first semester is botany, the detailed study Biology students Vicki Peel and Sonny Hobbs look for in isects and leaves.

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Library Facilities Aid Students and Faculty Mrs. Rees, librorian, teaches Potty Morris to utilize the Reader ' s Guide. As term paper time rolled around, we joined the steadily growing stream of humanity which flowed endlessly into room 217, the library. Here we were often able to find the desired in- formation amid the groans of similarly oppressed beings. This shelf-lined rectangular room is the resting place of about eleven thousand books and magazines. Each individual book is cataloged and marked in accordance with the Dewey Decimal System. There ore specially marked sections for various types of literature, music, art, science, speech, fiction, and quite a few others. A section which has proved of invaluable assistance to both students and teachers is the reserve section. On these shelves teachers may put aside books related to their subject for stu- dent research. Supervising this wordy domain were the school librarians, Mrs. Rees and Mrs. Gosma. These women regulated the flow of books in and out of the library, cataloged, and purchased new additions for the shelves. Acting as apprentice librarians were thirty-two girls who spent one period a da y working in the library. The nature of their work was much akin to that of Mrs. Rees and Mrs. Gosma. They checked books, kept the shelves in order, sent out over-due book slips, ran errands for the regular librarians, and generally kept the room in order. John Shirley finds the library a source of occurate informotic papers, special projects, general information, and 2 peace and quietness ore prerequisites. rips to the library

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Attracts Eager and Capable Minds of plant life; and the second is zoology, the detailed study of animal life. In botany classes the students learned such things as the details of the reproduction of plants, their specific uses, and the basic structure and chemical processes of all plants. In the zoology phase of the course the students learned about the various types of animal life and how they are classed ac- cording to physical characteristics. They also learned about the internal structure of many animals and about their life processes. Most of this was done through the observance of charts and the dissection of preserved specimens. Chemistry represents the next step on the science ladder. KHS offers both elementary and advanced courses in this field. In first year, or elementary chemistry, the student learns only the essentials of the science, such as the structure of atoms, their characteristics, and the reasons for one element reacting with another. If a student wishes to delve into this science more completely, he must take advanced, or second year chemistry. Physics is the last step in the KHS science course and is token in the senior year. It is the science of matter and motion. In the Physics classes the students learn about the different types of matter and the many forces of nature which act upon this matter. This includes mechanics, electronics, and many other phases. The KHS curriculum requires only one year of science to graduate, but there are many students who take advantage of our facilities and study a science course every year. It has been pointed out that the sciences are different, yet they ore all related; and one is not to a great degree more important than the other. They are oil a part of our everyday lives, especially here at KHS where weird noises con be heard, and odd odors can be detected almost everyday when walking down the north hall on the third or first floor. The collection of oxygen gas is the obiect of this laboratory experiment being corefully performed by Greg Perkins and Joe Jay.