Ranchester High School - Rustler Yearbook (Ranchester, WY)

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22 THE REFLECTOR GRAMMAR DEPARTMENT Slogan—“Looking Forward” In the sixth, seventh and eighth grades work for the year was planned to carry out two major objectives: The first of these was the improvement of oral English, and the second, the securing of greater comprehension in reading. We feel that creditable progress has been made in each objective. The improvement in oral expression has been made through daily drills in correct language forms. Oral reports on current events and other topics of general interest have been made, and some practice in story- telling and debating has been given as part of the course. The written work in English has been correlated with History and reading, and the classes have written excel- lent compositions on historical subjects as well as several very good book reviews. The work in reading has included several of the classics in all of which comprehension tests have been made. The pupils in each of the three grades in this room have done much outside reading from books furnished us by the Carnegie Library of Sheridan. Through the library we are able to get excellent books which has been a means of creating a taste for good reading in this room. The work in arithmetic has been made as practical as possible. Much practice in the fundamentals has been given by means of the Studebaker Drill material and a fair degree of speed and accuracy has been achieved. The sixth and seventh grades have both done excellent work in geography. The sixth grade has written to all parts of the United States and to Canada and Alaska for materials for study of industries and products. Much interesting material has been gathered and the interest in the class work has been stimulated as a result of these letters. The seventh grade has studied Europe and Austrialia, emphasizing climatic belts and comparisons with the geography of North America. The year’s work in spelling has been based on the Horn-Ashbaugh text. The tests given during the term have shown a high average of achievement in this branch. The problem method has been emphasized in the work in History. The sixth and eighth grades have done outstanding work in this course. The seventh grade, made up entirely of boys, has had two periods each week in manual training, which they have greatly enjoyed and in which each has made uniformly excellent grades. The art work for the year has been arranged to include free-hand drawing, poster-making, and printing, in which some very good work has also been done. Much interest has also been taken in map, especially those of the industrial type. CAROLYN GRAFF University of Wyoming Grammar Room

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THE REFLECTOR 21 of the school year of 1925-26. Work benches, tools, etc., are sufficient to accommodate eight pupils working together. Such projects as match boxes, tie racks, broom holders, and shoe polishing boxes have been successfully worked out by the 7th grade. More advanced work is done by the high school pupils in the way of taborets, book cases, trophy cases, medicine cabinets and farm gates. SCIENCE “There is no lie in nature; no discords in the revelations of science, in the laws of the Universe.”—Kingsley. GENERAL SCIENCE This introductory course is given to Freshmen and while its primary purpose it is not to pave the way for other courses in science yet it does this, and more. It develops the so-called scientific attitude of mind and helps the pupil acquire much useful information. It gives the pupil on idea of world activities which is of value in the choosing of a life work. In addition the pupil learns to interpret the phenomena of nature so that things once puzzling become clear in the mind of the student. BIOLOGY This course, defined as being the study of life, both plant and animal, is given to Sophomore students. It has proven a most interesting course, such topics as plant morphology and physiology, embryology, and heredity having been studied. Field trips were taken in both sciences and Witten reports required. Some laboratory work was done and the experiments carefully recorded in the class notebooks. BOOKKEEPING Bookkeeping is an elective course and on account of several late entrants, the class has representatives from each of the four classes this year. The presentation of the course expects the beginner to master the simple principles of debiting and crediting with which he can appreciate the more complicated principles of accounting necessary in the transaction of a business of extensive operations. He becomes acquainted with the various business forms and is shown how to fill out the same. Thus he recognizes a transaction from the paper it represents in business and is required to make his record in the working sets from the reproduced business papers. These transactions are practical and identical with those which occur in business. Instructors—Mr. Garland and Mr. Burgoon. SOCIAL SCIENCE FOCK—ECONOMICS The course in Economics has included a study of Social Progress and modern Economic Organization. Primative economic relations. Industrial Revolutions. Labor Organizations, Production, Distribution, the tools of business. Money, Crime and its Causes and Prevention, Poverty, Foreign Relationships, Machine Industry, Specializa- tion of Business Units. Tasks of Enterprisers, Utilization of Natural and Human Re- sources, Capital, Wealth and Efficiency are among the subjects receiving special attention. Our Economic Organization and American Problems were the texts used as the basis of the course. These were supplemented by various references» on which term papers were submitted by the members of the class. Instructor's Mr. Garland and Mr. Burgoon. AMERICAN HISTORY FOUR The course in American History has emphasized the factors in our National Development which appeals to us as most vital from the standpoint of today. This to explain prevailing conditions and institutions by showing how they came about. Thus we place ourselves in a position to participate intelligently in the solution of the great problems of social and political betterment which is the duty of all to face. The importance of the American Constitution has been impressed and an appreciation of the work of the Pioneer has been duly emphasized. We have tried to discover how the human will—that mysterious force—shapes the web of history. How one deed leads to another and determines the next, one event succeeds another, in what seems to be a fated chain of cause and effect. The subject matter of history is the life of people in the process of growth. To make good citizens by having a knowledge of the needs and manner of meeting these needs is one of the aims of the course. Sketches of the leaders discussing their personalities and reports on the various American institutions have been made by members of the class. MEDIAEVAL HISTORY ONE The leading aim of the study of history is to enable one to understand the world today. The life and work of a few men and women of first rate influence in the various fields of human endeavor and their achievements and the economic, literary and scientific progress has formed the basis of the study during the year. This has been accomplished by means of topical recitations, map making and special reports from the members of the class. The growing interest shown by the members of both history classes indicates that the value of the study of history is fully appreciated. Mr. Garland and Mr. Burgoon taught both classes.

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23 THE REFLECTOR INTERM EDI ATE DEI A RTM ENT Slogan— Our very best every day.” During the 1926-1927 term grades three, four and five have had an enrollment which varied from twenty to twenty-six. At present we have twenty-three pupils in this room, seven in the third grade, eight in the fourth, and eight in the fifth. Because of an epidemic of influenza, and later one of measles, only two have records of perfect attendance. The term, for the most part, has been one of pleasant, busy days, with work, interest, and pleasure characteriz- ing each. Individual progress in the various branches has been very gratifying as the days have passed. The new course of study had added fresh and different material for the daily work, which was welcomed by both pupils and teacher. A few of the important accomplishments of the year are as follows: In arithmetic, the third grade has had constant practice and drill in the four fundamental operations, with “carrying and borrowing.” Roman numerals, notation, and numeration have also been stressed. The fourth grade has mastered multi- plication, with two and three numbers in the multiplier, and long division. The new work for the fifth grade is composed of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of fractions and work with denominate numbers. For all, review and practice in the work of preceeding grades, with gradually increas- ing difficulty in all operations, has been the daily program. Our Wyoming History and Geopraphy which is a part of the new Course of Study, has held the interest of the third and fourth grades in an amazing manner. Stories of the early explorers, scouts, pony express, riders, pioneers and Indian wars, and especially the stories of the Bozeman Trail, have been of intense interest. The children have brought clippings from magazines and newspapers and pictures from advertisements until we have an attractive collection for the bulletin board and for use in making histoi r booklets. Work in reading and literature has been composed of silent reading, group reading, and class reading. The pupils have done much home reading for book reports. Many of the books on the reading list have been furnished for the school library, and liberal use has been made of the Carnegie Library in Sheridan. Paragraphing, correct usage, picture study, letter writing, oral and written composition, and memorization have characterized the language work. Large framed prints of two of the pictures studied, “The Horse Fair”, by Bonheur and “The Windmill”, by Ruysdael, were purchased with money obtained by a bake sale, toward which the patrons gave liberally. Our progress in penmanship is also worthy of mention. Many of the pupils look forward to receiving Palmer buttons when the prepared lessons are sent to the Palmer Company. Intermediate Room