Madera Union High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Madera, CA)

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HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL: Physical Geography, Ancient History, Latin. Second Half—English, Algebra, Physics, Greek and Roman History, Latin. Middle Year—First half—English, Plane Geometry, Botany, Medizeval History, Latin. Second Half—English, Plane Geometry, Zoology, Modern History, Latin. Senior) Vear—First Half—English, Solid Geometry, Chemistry, Political Economy, Latin. Second Half—English, Solid Geom- etry, Astronomy, Civil Government, Latin. During the years that have elapsed some variations in the course of study have been made. ‘The work in science has been ma- terially changed. Zoology, Astronomy and Geology were dropped from the course, while the time for Botany, Physics and Chemistry was lengthened to a year’s work. In the second term,: commencing Sept. ro, ’95, there entered: Cora. Kessler, Sophia Wolters, Leo Woodson, Alberta Smith, George Wells, Alice Stockton, Walter Wells, Maggie McNally, Will Clark, and Will Stahl took some special work in Latin. During ’95 and ’96 the library was started and since that time the number of books in this department has been increasing. During its new term opening Sept. 14, ’96, Mr. W. L. Williams, principal of Grammar Grades, assisted in High School work. He took charge of the History Department. There entered as Juniors Craig Cunning- ham, Louise Mordecai, Nellie Dwyer, La Roy Kendall, Fannie Gooden, Grace Breslin and Mayme Saunders. G. W. Giles attended for several months. Attention during this term was directed toward the establishment of a chemical laboratory. Also apparatus was purchased for the Physics Department. The High School now having been in opera- tion for three years, the first Senior grade of Madera High School received their diplomas. George Mordecai, Irene Slaten, George Nich- olson, Maggie O’Mara, Merle Rush, Lois Wilson and James O’Mara were the fortunate ones. : At the beginning of the year ’97-98, the Board of ‘Trustees, consisting now of Messrs. J. W. Watkins, D. F. Edwards and J. R. Barnett, selected as teacher of History, Civil Government and Mathematics, Mr. E. R. Zion of Stanford. ‘The addition of a teacher gave opportunity for much more satisfactory work in all branches. The year of ’97-’98 welcomed in as Juniors Dow Ransome, Martha Ritter, Frank Cook, Genevieve Nicholson, Agnes Brown, Philip Carey, Martha Slover, Lorena Kendall, Belle Rivas, Mary Trincano, May Searles and Katie Bailey. For several month Essie Rosenthal and Maude Currans took special work. The improvement to the High School dur- ing this year is in the Physical Laboratory. Considering the fact that this department is so new there is considerable apparatus. The year ’98 finds another class of Seniors ready to launch upon life’s great sea, though there are but three to receive the parchments this year, it is whispered that they “make up in quality what they lack in quantity.’’ That our High School may prosper in the future is the earnest wish of the pupils, past and present. MAYME SAUNDERS. Chemistry and Physics. ar “The object of primary education should be to discipline the senses to habits of quick and accurate observation, and the mind to the habit of forming correct judgments from facts which the senses reveal,’’ says Cooley. And how can this be done better than by work in the laboratory? As someone says, ‘‘Read nature in the language of experiment.”’ Educators all over our land are beginning to realize that this is the best method of teach- ing and the scholar hails with joy the time spent in the laboratory. He enjoys it because, instead of learning rules and laws from the dry pages of a text book, he is set to work to discover facts for himself. And when he has poss upon tral relat

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HIGH SCHOOL ANNUAL. the hospital ward and the witness room. The steel cells are to be constructed different from others of this kind. These instead of being what are called latticed cells will be made of punched steel. The material used for roofing will be slate for the offices and corrugated steel for the jail proper. The brick, which are made at home, have been pronounced to be of the best quality by the contractors, and the nearness of the Ray- mand granite quarries, from which this ma- terial is secured, enables the contractors to give us one of the best structures of the kind for the cost of any in the State. The jail of Kings county was built at a cost of $10,865 in 1896 or twenty-five dollars more than ours and much the same material was used, but the nearness of our quarries will give us for less money a jail which will in every way equal if it is not superior to theirs. The size of our grounds will be consider- ably larger than those of Kings County, which will give us a fine park. The question of erecting a new court house has not yet been decided but will probably come up at the next general election in No- vember. Personals. ee Who is it that thinks G- brown eyes? has the pretty We hope Nelly will not have any wild run- aways this summer. A popular air since the boys enlisted has been ‘’I’he Girl I Left Behind Me.’’ Miss Belle Rivas will return to her home in the mountains at the close of school. We hope Leo will not be haunted by the “unlucky ghost’’ of Dido this summer. We wonder how Martha and Lorena, the inseparables, will survive the summer without seeing each other daily. The favorite of all ‘‘modest slang’? among the High School pupils the past few months has been, ‘‘Great Ceesar.’’ Agnes, with her camera, has adopted the plan of the French gallantry by saying: ‘‘It is not necessary to ask madam to look pleas- ant ; she could not do otherwise.’’ History of Madera High School. eae Four years ago this spring in taking the school census of Madera, Mrs. S. T. Cook took the initiative step toward the formation of a District High School in Madera. In accordance with the school law concern- ing the formation of District High Schools, a petition was circulated and signed by a majority of the heads of families in Madera asking for the establishment and maintenance of a District High School. The petition was next given to the Board of ‘Trustees, who requested the Superintendent of Schools to call an election for the purpose of determining the question. Accordingly Mr. Hawkins called for an election which was held in June ’o4. The returns of this election decided in favor of the High School. The Board of Trustees, Mr. Watkins, Mr. Worthington and Mr. Greive became the Board of Directors of the newly formed institution of learning. A room in the West Side School House was fitted up as a class room, and Miss Anne M. Nicholson was appointed teacher. Sept. 17, ’94, the Madera High School opened with the following in attendance: Erna Coughran, Irene Slaten, Lois Worthing- ton, Inez Mace, Olive Breyfogle, George Mordecai, Maggie O’Mara, Merle Rush, and Jean Worthington. Before the first week closed there entered: Jessie Smith, Lois Wil- son, Annie Mullery, Birdie, Young, James O’Mara and John Williams, and during the erm George Nicholson joined the class. The following course of study was adopted: Junior Year—First Half—English, Algebra,

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HIG ss C HOO ANNUAL. found something to be true he is more ready to believe it than he would be if he had to take someone’s word for it. In the chemical laboratory many interesting facts are brought to light by the student. Many things, e. g., pouring gas from oue bottle to another, weighing gas, or burning steel, which, at first thought, seem almost im- possible, are done, and thus indelibly impressed upon the mind of the learner. The mind is trained to note carefully every little thing in relation to an experiment, and the student, being required to write down everything he has observed, and from these facts to draw his own conclusions, is trained in the habit of thinking and in the power of observation. Thus, though his conclusions are sometimes wrong, they are much more valuable to him than a whole book full of facts simply com- mitted to memory. Although our laboratory is a converted cloak room, with very few of the conveniences of a good laboratory, still, under the guidance of our esteemed teacher, Miss Nicholson, we have spent many profitable hours in it. We are tolerably well supplied with chemicals and apparatis. Tn relation to the laboratory, R. P. Williams says: ‘‘T'o theaverage young person chemistry is the most fascinating of sciences. Its exper- iments teem with newness, odorous gases, colored liquids, and precipitates stimulate the powers of observation, and explosions fill his mind with wonder.’’ Although this newness seems very fascinating to the Juniors, and the work seems, to them, to be easy, yet we have had many hard lessons during the year. Exper- imenting does not take the place of studying, but is used to aid us in understanding our work. We will now turn our attention to Physics for a short time. ‘Tt is wholly beyond question that to him who desires to become a physicist practical laboratory work is absolutely essential. Thor- ough knowledge must be drunk in by the eyes and the ears, and absorbed by the finger-tips,’’ says Daniell, Chemistry deals with the elements and the different compounds and mixtures which they make. It hunts up the different elements of which rocks, earth, air, etc., are composed; while physics deals with matter and energy and the relation of the one to the other. Physics in its broadest sense takes in Biology, Chemistry, Chemical and Physiological Phys- ics. Physics is continually growing in import- ance asa study. It formerly was, and is yet to a certain extent, possible for a student to receive the degree M. D. without having any adequate knowledge of physics. But times are changing, and it will probably soon be impossible for a person to receive that title until he has a good knowledge of natural philosophy. During the past year Mr. Zion has been our instructor in this branch of our work and, as a class, we can say that the time spent in the Physical Laboratory, as well as that spent in the Chemical Laboratory, has been pleasant and profitable. We are glad that we live in a time when these advantages are given to students, and we intend to make the most of our opportunities. We Me Co O@e Our English Course. ar The course in English prescribed by the University of California, is arranged for High Schools having a four years’ course. While there is just enough work to be mastered in that time, it is entirely too much for a three years’ course as our school has. In order to finish, the work must be rushed over, and in this way the purpose of some selections is en- tirely lost. Neither beauty of style nor depth of thought can be fully appreciated without time for discussion of these points in class. Under these circumstances we can never learn to criticise, properly, authors whose works we read. Great authors are open to criticism as well as insignificant writers, and we are entitled to our opinion of them as well as other critics. To criticise does not necessarily mean to find