Akron High School - Torpedo Yearbook (Akron, IA)

Page 56 text:

' 'vim uw wi 5 HW llDl.-.1tlff if-Q illl Jfli Domestic Science This branch of vocational training in the Akron High School housed within its new quarters and with its ample equipment is now prepared to meet the three fold re- quirements of its purpose in a high school course of study: To give practical training to those whose homes do not for one reason or anot-her provide such training. To bridge over the abrupt ascensu in High School too often made uninviting when four cold academic studies are offered the first year: To provide training and preparation to meet the demands of thestate for the Normal Training course for teaching. The Domestic Science occupies the south end of the third floor in the new build- ing and consists of a large sewing room in the southeast corner, a large kitchen in the southwest, and a small serving room between the two on the south. Also between the sewing room and kitchen is a pantry with built in cupboards and drawers. All these rooms are lighted, ample in size and well arranged. The equipment consists of five Whits rotary drop head sewing machinesg five fond student sewing taiblesg ironing board and electric iron for the sewing room. The kitchen has ten double and five single blow gas burner stovesg four ovens, kitcihen cabi- nets for eight girlsg a double sink with cold and hot water tapsg a full set of both china and kitchen ware. The course of study provides for a. full years work in the ninth grade: one semester for sewing including the projects, stitching, button hole making, garment fitting, marking, and pressing. The other semester of kitchen work covers the ground giving training in the preparation of practical dishes of food, study of the elements of food and their valuesg care of the kitchen and utensils and above all the orderly arrangement of all connec- ted with the kitchen. As an incentive to proficiency in this branch of study the class will be given opportunity to exhibit their projects of the sewing semester and their ability in de- signing and practical drcssmaking near the end of the semester. Manual Training As the department was somewhat limited on the amount of work that could be done during the first few days of school on account of lack of tools, the students were put to work removing doors which did not fit. The doors were dressed down and the hinges set so they worked easily. It was not long until the school board secured all necessary tools such as a band saw, power emery, and a motor to run the machine. Besides the power machinery all hand tools that were needed were secured. With these additions it is as well an equipped shop as any in the state for a town of this size. , The shop now being equipped and the tools put in racks where the boys could find them, they were now ready to go to work. The ninth grade started the year by making taborets which they finished with very promising results for the next pieces. As the eleventh grade had but one half year they were allowed to go ahead after making a few small pieces and make what they wanted to providing the project was not to hard for the amount of training they had had. The Manual training department did not close the door on the girls as three Junior and three freshmen girls entered these classes. All of these girls did credible work for the department. Some of the numerous things which were made i11 manual training are: Cedar chests, library tables, taborets, medicine cabinets, smoking stands, magazine racks, hall trees, pedestals, card tables, and piano benches. All of these things in May High School gymnasium. I: 1lT1E-11CllQ'1

Page 55 text:

into FltiIiri1-- is itil qcnf 1 General Science Science instruction in the first year of high school does not aim primarily to survey the entire field of nature in order that the student may decide which of the special sciences he likes best and which he will omit. Nor should first year general science be regarded as an introduction to, or, a foundation for the special science he may later study. While general science should in a large measure accomplish both of these results, it has a vastly more important function to perform. The primary func- tion of first year science is to give as far as possible a rational, orderly, scientific un- derstanding of the pupils enviroment to the end that he may, to some extent, at least correctly interpret that enviroment and be master of it. The course consists of a years work, class room work and labratory work. The labratory work is purposed very largely for training in accuracy and secondy for training in being able to reproduce in note book form that which they had worked out in class. Agriculture Given in the second year of High School, the study of agriculture is purposed to fulfil two requirements, firstly, because of the fact that this is really a rural com- munity and agriculture is the main vacationg purpose of acquainting the students with a general knowledge of the farm and its environmentg secondly to meet the requirements of the state for teaching and preparation of teachers thru the Normal training course. Sometimes the study of agriculture is criticized on the ground that it is attempting to make farm men and farm women out of students. This is just as erroneous as to say, that the study of Physiology attempts to make doctors of students. The study of agri- culture does attempt to replace that ignorance students have of rural communities and farm principles. This work consists of class work and labratory work, the latter being largely out- door work and is made as practical as faculities will allow. Physics Physics is the summary of a part of human experience. No subject in the secon- dary school course of study to teach the student life more closely then elementary Physics No subject is better fitted to develop the reasoning powers or cultivate the uncommon faculty known as common sense. From the time the pupil opens the water faucet in the morning until he snaps off the electric light at night he is constantly applying or observing some of the laws of Physics. These principles may be connected with the automobile, the radio, motion pictures or they may have to do with the more prosaic vvheelbarron, pump in the yard, the buck saw or the washing machine run by human force. Although the application for Physics are so common, yet any attempt of the average high school student to master the essentials of the subject is certain to meet with many real difficulties. For this reason great care must be taken to use simple language in explaining the fundamental principals oi' Physics and in making the illu- strationsnatural both in subject matter and through devices used to aid the under- standing, must be chosen in special reference to its appeal to the young mind. Large portions of thc subject matters deal with knowledge already possessed by the student of high school age, and nothing is more appealing to him than the feeling that this in- formation is to be made use of. The experiment work is not so much emphasized for accuracy as for experience. The Labratory in the middle west part of the building is provided with gas water, light, and electricity. The equipment now consists of over two hundred dollars worth. The equipment in the natural science department will be sufficient to meet the needs of a first class course. hjC15YVjQ1,V,3Y. J

Page 57 text:

1 t..imL-.Jr-1 1-1-Vx,-:mt-.1 DECLAMATORY One of the principal events of the winter was the fourth annual declamatory contest. This year there were eight who contested for first place in their respective classes. The progressives were as follows: ORATORY Opinions Stronger then Army--- -..--Fahy Replogle. The World's Orator ....................... ---Paul Johnson DRAMATIC Full Measure of Slevotion .--------.------ ----- G enevieve Clhristenson The Lost Word---.. .......... ......-...... I zctta Kelly The Three Things --.- ..........--..-.. .--- O r a Talbolt HUMOROUS Absentmindness of Prisilla ......--------- ---- M argaret Clayton The Bear Story ..-....-.-..---------- ----Darrill Johnson Pleasant Half Hour on the Beach .......-..... -. -.....---.-- Muriel Tolbolt Paul delivered his selection, which portrayed Christ as the worlds orator very admirably but Fahy was awarded first place in this class. A Full Measure of Devotion which depicted the deep love of parents for their son who would never return from the battlefield of France, was very well rendered by Genevieve. Ofra credibly portrayed, The T'hree Things , which were: Class pride prejudice, and utter unbelief in God and Christianity, that during his experiences in France the the American soldier found to be a detriment to his character. Tzetta was awarded first honor in the dramatic class for the splendid rendiction of 'K'l'he Last Word , Hermns had given up the name of God for wealth and honor and had lost it when he needed it most to save the life of his son. In the humorous class Margaret Clayton 1-elated how Priscilla stirred her wed- ding cake with a stove lifter and approached the alter, wearing red bedroom slippers and carrying a bar of every soap in place of her boquet. Muriel Talbot gave the audi- ence an idea of the worries of the distracted motheifs caring for her family at the sea shore. Slarrill Took the Cakel' with his splendid impersonation of the little boy who went to hunt bears, he did . Mrs. Blanche R. Warren of Sioux City judged the contest and the winners re- presented Akron in the Pre-sub-district contest. This was also held in Akron being rc- presented by a group of enthusiasts, who accompanied their contestants heir. Trenton carried away the honor in oratory, Hawarden in dramatic and Dari-ill the honors for Akron by winning in humorous. He represented Akron at tahe sub-district contest at Rock Valley in which nine towns competed for honors but lost to thosc from larger towns. We are glad to see that so many of our High School students realize the value of the Declamatory training in public speaking and hopes they will continue the work their work in their remaining years in high school as well as after leaving High School. Inez Cobb -1 '-TF'-7123 Cl 1 Y-ip Y -- e L.-:n rn :za hifi- 1