Strong Vincent High School - Spokesman Yearbook (Erie, PA)

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Mr. Hughes' trig class watches a surveying demonstration put on by four of the members of the class. In Miss Bryce's advanced algebra class, a student demonstrates graphing. A student in Miss Turner's geometry class proves that a straight line is still the shortest distance between two points. goof of cc!! oaarning Mathematics may not qualify as everyone's idea of an interesting course, but some, taking it either through necessity or natural inclination, have come to enjoy it. They understand that mathematics has always been the important factor in the foundation of our civilization. Without it we could not possibly have our present day sciences as we know them. Furthermore there is hardly an occupation today which does not deal with mathematics in some form. For this group of pupils the teachers of the mathematics department have provided excellent opportunities for enlight- enment and advancement. They have planned the courses in the order of student ability to master them and have attempted to satisfy everyone. Our own school, Strong Vincent, presents all this in a very efficient way. Qur junior high students are fortunate in having Miss Vanatta as their instructor in general mathematics. This course has recently been changed so that it now consists of plain arithmetic in the 7th and 8th grades and an introduction to algebra and geometry in the 9th, with some com- mercial arithmetic. Mr. Hughes is now teaching the last class in Algebra 2. Beginning next semester there will be no classes known as Algebra l and 2 taught in the school. ln beginning senior high work, the lOth graders have an opportunity to study plane geometry with Miss Turner, Miss Cantlon, or Mr. Hughes. Having successfully completed this course, advanced algebra is open to them as luniors. All of these classes are under the super- vision of Miss Bryce. ln their senior year, a choice of solid geometry or trigonometry is given. The decision between the two depends upon their future occupational needs. Solid geometry is taught by Miss Turner and trigonometry by Mr. Hughes. lnasmuch as people seem to work harder when a definite goal is in sight, the winning of the Rensselaer Medal is the goal of the students of mathematics and science. This medal is awarded each year to the most proficient student in mathe- matics and science. Twenty- two

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Zia Ckanging lvmrfcl Even a small child has an indirect quest for scientific knowledge when he asks of his fond parents such a question as Where does the rain come from? It is only natural for human beings to want to know of the origin and basis of the various things which surround them, for some of the foods we eat, the clothes we wear, the homes we live in, our way of living, began in some scientific laboratory. It is when this child enters junior high school that he first finds the answers to a few of the most profound queries. Gradually as he progresses in his school courses his choice of studies becomes more difficult and yet more satisfyingp he may take general science at the beginning and then advance into biology, phys- iography, chemistry, physics or senior science. It is only in the past few years that the junior high school student has been offered a taste of the physical sciences. l-le now takes a course of general science which gives him a little of each branch of science, one of which he may choose to major in, in senior high school. Mr. Weibel, Mr. Cochrane and Mr. Blake are the able teachers of this subject at Vincent. ln senior high school biology is usually the first to be taken up. This science deals with the origin and life-history of plants and animals, and is exceedingly interesting especially when studied under Mrs. Flynn or Mr. Cochrane. Physiography is next in line and it tells of the earth and its con- struction and of atmospheric conditions. Miss Burke or Mr. Shanor teaches this at Vincent. The real adventure begins when the pupil enters the chemistry room. Atoms, molecules, protons and electrons, things which were previously unheard of now begin to take shape and a new world un- folds. With Mr. Armagost or Mr. Blake he will decompose compounds or make them. Mr. Shanor also teaches physics which instructs by actual experiment the laws and forces which govern this great world of ours. These latter two may be studied only by juniors and seniors. The most recent addition to the school curricula is senior science which is taught by Mr. Armagost. This presents a practical side for the boy or girl who will not go to college for it teaches them how to apply the principles of science to every day life.

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uziinedd raining Many students secure positions immediately upon graduation because those who have success- fully completed the commercial courses offered at Strong Vincent are able to go directly into business. Those who plan to continue their education will find that the training they have received, will be useful to them in their college work. The com- mercial course is definite vocational preparation, and the commercial field includes preparation for a variety of occupations. When Strong Vincent was first established, the commercial studies were few, but during the past ten years they have increased greatly. The Typing and Shorthand classes, under the direction of Miss Esler, Miss Forsberg, Miss Lange, and Miss Warfel, are always filled to capacity. The courses in Typing and Shorthand consist of two years. The typing classes are under the capable direction of Miss Ester, Miss Forsberg, Mrs. Donahue, and Miss Warfel. Mathematics is of vital importance in the com- mercial field as well as in the academic field. Two years of Bookkeeping furnish some knowledge of accounting, and are taught under the guidance of Miss Schade, Mrs. Donahue, Mr. Wick, and Mr. Schenck. Semester courses are taught in Busi- ness English and Commercial Law. Graduates in commercial work should have acquired the training which will enable them to work successfully for other people, as well as to manage their own affairs more efficiently and wisely. Business training provides the student with the knowledge of the business world, and also trains them to save money and invest wisely. In addition, the students in commercial fields learn to cooperate with others. In bookkeeping class, students check their figures on an adding machine. The office practice group turning out a school stencil . . . cooperation provides extra experience An advanced typing class transcribes their shorthand notes. Twenty- three .41 l