Leominster High School - Magnet Yearbook (Leominster, MA)

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stimulate interest, direct effort, and chal- lenge work habits, each student chooses his own goal and directs his practice to achieve that goal to the best of his ability. SHORTHAND I and II The aims of this course are to develop a skill in reading and writing shorthand, to improve speed in taking dictation, and to lay a foundation for accurate and rapid transcription on the typewriter. BUSINESS LAW Business law thoroughly prepares the student to conduct business dealings with an intelligent idea of his legal rights and limita- tions and to unde rstand legal information which will aid him in doing business. PRE-DRIVING COURSE This elective attempts to provide the students with a thorough knowledge of safety practices useful in the operating of a motor vehicle. The course is offered to the students in the hope that the accident rate among teen age drivers may be lessened. SOCIAL STUDIES The social studies enable the students to obtain a thorough knowledge of the world and its problems. Geography supplies a knowledge of physical forces, topography, climate, soil, bodies of water, and natural resources that influence our daily lives. Economics covers the broad subject of man’s wants, and it shows his efforts to secure the material things and services to satisfy them. ‘Topics connected with these factors are consumption, production, exchange, dis- tribution, and public finance. 12 Sociology deals with man’s efforts to adjust himself to his natural and artificial environment so that he may live harmon- iously with others in group life. Problems discussed in this course are the maladjust- ment of indivuduals to their environment, methods by which it may be corrected, and the way in which culture molds human nature. United States History is required by state law, as its purpose is to make better citizens by developing in the minds of the students an appreciation of their heritage. It also prepares them to avoid in the future the mistakes that have been made in the past. World History acquaints the students with the responsibilities that rest upon them, and equips them to become useful, more-informed citizens of the world. This subject deals with the story of the beginning of our civilization centuries ago, and the expansion of this life until it had reached most parts of the world as we know it today. The course was recently added to our curriculum as a substitute for Modern History so that the students would be thoroughly prepared for a similar course in college. PHYSICAL EDUCATION Girls Mrs. McKinnon, girls’ physical educa- tion instructor, teaches unit work in hockey, soccer, basketball, volleyball, softball, and body conditioning. After school, she offers tennis and skiing. During two periods each week, the girls meet in Room B to see films concerning personality and to study about health and safety. Boys Mr. Piceuci, in charge of the boys’ gym classes, offers a wide variety of touch foot- ball, basketball, softball, soccer, volley ball, occasional hikes, and body conditioning. In Room B, some work is done in the fields of first aid and covering of the rules of football, baseball, and basketball.