Ambridge Area High School - Bridger Yearbook (Ambridge, PA)

Page 17 text:

We Train for Industry A basic course in our educational sys- tem is the vocational department, su- pervised by Mr. Cass, director of vo- cational education. Our industrial program is aided by the state and the federal government. The purpose of the program is to lit students for in- dustrial employment. The vocational student's time is equally divided be- tween related subjects and shop work. At present the enrollment is two hun- dred and twenty-five boys, distributed among five shops. To the left of Mr. Cass's office is Mr. Wolf's wood shop. Here the boys learn pattern making, building construction, and job estimation. General school re- pair and construction is handled by this shop. Farther along the corridor is the electric shop, under the instruction of Mr. Axtell. Electrical repair work throughout the Ambridge Public Schools is done by the boys of this shop. The machine shop is headed by Mr. Arnett. The boys do practical machine work on the lathe shaper and the milling machine Next to the machine shop is the auto shop, which is under the supervision of Mr. Todd. After a semester of assign- ment work the boys put to practice what they have learned about repairing automobiles. In a room apart from the shops is the trade drafting department, taught by Mr. Keusch. The work here is largely practical drawing. Blue print- ing for the shops and the school is done by this group.

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MR EARL M. CASS D re t r f Vocational Education As We Learn Under the supervision of the administrative staff, Ambridge High School stresses the fundamental elements of education: learning and doing. The first of these is accomplished in the regular curriculum of studies, together with special courses offered Ambridge students. These special courses, home economics and vocational training, have rapidly developed into major departments of our school. In the regular curriculum are courses in social science, which are an effort on the part of the administrative staff to prepare the students for a good democratic life. The second element of education-doing! Through the ceaseless efforts of our principal, the extra-curricular program of A.H.S. has become one of the most extensive in the state. School plays, forensic activities, music, and sports have earned our school an enviable repu- tation. Moreover, our noncompetitive activities rank high. Our tri- weekly newspaper, our class meetings, this yearbook, and especially our Student Senate give the students opportunities to develop character and to prepare for good citizenship. A step toward a more perfect administration was made when the plan of advancing home room teachers and sponsors with the students was introduced in 1939. This system permits development of a closer re- lationship between teachers and students. IZ

Page 18 text:

We Take Up Home Economics A complement of the vocational program for boys is the home economics department for girls. This department, which is one of the most fully equipped in Western Pennsylvania, offers a preparatory course for girls who plan to become homemakers. The foods laboratory is a delightful room divided into seven separate units, each of which contains a cabinet sink, a table top stove, and a dinette set. Four girls work in each one of these unit kitchens, preparing and serving wholesome dishes. In the clothing department students turn out their Paris creations. We find them making everything from evening gowns to summer play suits. Important to those girls who are taking u'p interior decoration are the model rooms. The spick and span model kitchen would bring joy to any house- wife's heart. The dining room is very well furnished with an 18th century maple dining room set. The living room suite, with its appealing green and wine color scheme, is an object lesson in interior decorating. A straight home economics course is especially recommended for girls who do not intend to go on in the commercial or academic fields after graduation. These girls are given extensive training in food preparation, clothing, child training, and interior decoration. Other girls may choose home economics as an elective course. This course deals with the fundamentals of the more extensive courses. Miss Feick is the supervisor of this department and has as her assistants Miss Shaul and Miss Robb. I-if