Phoenix Union High School - Phoenician Yearbook (Phoenix, AZ)

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yay- 11' tures. He will be better able to earn a living in that vast number of occupations that need a knowledge of our modern scientific inventionsg - even to law, ministry, or merchandising, '--- if he has studied science. He will be a better citizen for he cannot but see that law and order are the very heart of that great world of nature, of which he is a part. I-Ie will make better use of his leisure time if he has learned something of the workings of photography, of radiog of the life of plants and animals in the great outdoors, of the formation of rivers and rocks: of modern inven- tions. His ethical standards will be higher because of his realization and appreciation of the beauty, symmetry and regularity that are all about him, from the mighty forest with its teeming life, down to the minute and beautiful crystal that can be seen only with a microscope. The objective of science instruction is better living. MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT In the early days of Mr. Blount's principalship, he taught all the mathe- matics classes in this school. As the department grew, teachers of other departments were given a class or two in mathematics. During this period. Miss McDaniel and Mr. Elliott taught classes in Algebra. But by I9II mathematics was large enough and important enough to be made a sep- arate department, and Miss Sarah M. Whitfield was chosen head of this department. That year there were two teachers who gave full time and two teachers who gave part time to this subject. That year. also, Geom- etry changed from a half year to a full year subject. A comparison of the number of classes in l9I I-I2 and I924-25 may serve as good information and interest. No. of No. of l9I I-I2 Classes I924-25 Classes Algebra I and II . 5 Algebra I and II 23 Plane Geometry . 4 Plane Geometry , I6 Algebra III . I Algebra III . , 4 Solid Geometry I Algebra IV . I Trigonometry I ' Solid Geometry . .. 4 'f7 pupilsj Trigonometry ..., . I The department is especially pleased with the number of students who pursue the higher courses which are wholly elective. Many of the high school's honor students have taken prizes in the Annual State Contests in Algebra at Tucson. MUSIC DEPARTMENT The Phoenix Union High School band, under the direction of Mr. Albert Etzweiler, has attained a membership of forty-four members. The band has rehearsal each morning during the first school period. It is the object of this organization to promote and cultivate the desire among the students to appreciate and play only the best music. 29

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3-v1 COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT The Commercial Department of the Phoenix Union High School was one of the pioneer departments of its kind. It was organized by the present State Superintendent of Public lnstruction, C. O. Case, along about I905. ln l908 the present head of the department, C. L. Michael, was elected to teach commercial subjects, he being the only teacher in the department, which at that time was all located in the rooms now occupied by Mrs. Coleman and Mrs. Munson, there being no partition between them. There were eight typewriters. The enrollment in the work was such that it required an assistant. When the new buildings were built the department moved to larger quarters-the present beginning typing room and the two rooms west of it. This it was felt would be sufficient unto the needs of the department for many years. About that time Mrs. Mathews was elected to teach typing and shorthand. A few years later Mr. Glass came as teacher of bookkeep- ing and penmanship. Additional teachers have been added from time to time until there are now ten devoting all their time to commercial subjects and usually some outside help is required. The entire second floor of the Commercial Building and two on the first floor and more room is needed. At the beginning, penmanship, bookkeeping, shorthand and typing were taught. Now in addition to these Business English, Commercial Arithmetic, Rapid Calculation, Elements of Business, Clerical Practise, Commercial Law, Office Training, Salesmanship and Advertising have been added to the commercial training. There are now one hundred typewriters in daily use, three teachers devoting all their time to this subject alone. SCIENCE DEPARTMENT The Science Department of Phoenix Union High School has been grow- ing rapidly during the past few years. This year the number of science classes is 36 as compared with 30 of last year, and 20 of 4 years ago. This represents approximately 500, 750 and 900 students. To take care of this rapid increase a number of new laboratories have been equipped during these years. This year, there are in use two new general science laboratories which embody the latest ideas in laboratory construction for general science teaching. lnstruction in the Science Department aims to present the laws of nature in such a way that the pupil can make practical use of them in his daily living. His health will be better if he knows the sources of disease bacteria and how to check them: if he knows the nourishment value of foodsg if he knows the functioning of his own body: if he knows the laws of heredity. He will be a more useful home member if he knows how the door bell rings: why the water faucet chatters: how the electric iron works: in what way soda differs from baking powder: how to take fever tempera- 28

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The Sophomore band meets during the second hour and the Freshman band during the third hour of each day. These two bands have a mem- bership of twenty-five. As soon as they are qualified, these members will be placed in the school band. Miss Weltha Graham is the director of the boy's and girl's glee clubs. These organizations have had a very successful year under her capable direction. Miss Graham also gives private lessons in harmony and vocal work. She was a member of a committee which made arrangements for the Valley Musical Contest. FOREIGN LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT The United States has emerged from her isolation and attained a posi- tion among the world powers which increases the importance of the study of foreign language within her boundaries. Any foreign language serves as an excellent medium for gaining a mastery of English: any foreign language serves as a key to unlock the literary treasure house in its country. Even if the foreign language be Latin, in the words of President Coolidge, H Its study inspires those ideals which all men are struggling for and which come only through the Classics. The study of any one foreign language naturally minimizes the diffi- culties of the second language. However, if a pupil plans to study Spanish or French, he will find it well worth while to study Latin first, since from it are derived about ninety per cent of the words of Spanish or French. French has been the language of diplomacy for the last three centuries. lt was used at Versailles, at Washington, at Genoa, and at Lusanne. The scope of the French language is more apparent when one realizes that there are nearly a thousand daily newspapers printed in French outside of France and her colonies. E ln our section of the country, Spanish is looked upon as having more commercial value than other modern languages. An expert on high school program building, in an investigation lasting six months in Los Angeles two years ago, arrived at the conclusion that one-tenth of one per cent of the pupils who study Spanish actually use it commercially. This state- ment is not made to discredit the study of Spanish nor is the previous paragraph presented to advance the interests of French as a modern lan- guage. It is made with the idea in view that an equal advantage is afforded from the study of either of these languages as far as the ulitarian aspect is concerned. The Department of Foreign Languages aims to offer material and con- tent to the pupils that will give a good foundation for pursuing the purpose for which they chose the foreign language, whether it be cultural. commer- cial, or for foreign service. '40