Bedford High School - Torch Yearbook (Bedford, IA)

Page 60 text:

BEDFORD HIGH sci-loot ORMAL TRAINING DEP RTMENT Back row, Left to right: Howard Cox, Marjorie Peach, LaRue Thompson, Lola Klopp, Barbara Blane. Second row, left to right: Zola Million, Ruby Risser, Mal ry Shafar, Ferne Gray, Mary McQuaid, Miss Nelson. Front row, Dorothy Sparks, Kathleen Wintermute, Bon nie Snyder, Vivian Hunter, Crystal Howes. Designed to prepare pupils for teaching, tlh e normal training course was first offered in Bed- ford in 11913. Today, much expanded since its beginning and completely modern, the department numbers L5 students. The prescribed cours-e includes wide study in various fields. It includes a study of psychol- ogyf methods and school management, also four review subjects including arithmetic, grammar. agriculture and geography. The department does 'much systematic observation and has a week of supervised practice in a rural school before graduation. 'Examinations from the State 'Depart- ment of Education are offered twice during the junior and senior years. Last year the 'Future Teachers Association met regularly to 'discuss the problems of the teacher. At Christmas the two! classes enjoyed Christmas parties together. The first-year class entertained the graduating class and both classes were entertained by the normal training critic, Miss Nelson.

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COMMERCIAL Bedford High school offers a commercial course consisting of Shorthand I, Shorthand II, Typ- ing I, Typing II, and Bookkeep- ing. Shorthand and Typewriting have been taught 'in our high school for several years, but be- cause of the demand for addi- tional commercial training, a new course was added to our curriculum. Twelve senior boys are enrolled in bookkeeping, which teaches the fundamental principle of double entry book- keeping. This course is planned for the purpose of teaching how to keep personal records. The Shorthand II class con- sists of 15 girls who take new material dictation at an average of 120 words per minute and transcrlibe at an average rate of 50 Words per minute. Most of these girls are ready to accept positions as stenographers. Typewriting II is offered for the purpose of developing the skill of typing to as high a stan- dard as possible. Eighteen girls have ventured into this course and have attained an aivjerage of 60 words per minute on speed with a very high rate of accuracy. The following awards have been earned so far: Lois Lacy, 60, Jeannette Lucas, 60. VVe offer two classes of Type- writing I to a total of 54 stu- dents. This group has been di- vided into two sections, one for the development of stenographic skfills, the other for the purpose of personal typing. The group of stenographic skill are required to take the course in Shorthand. The average rate of speed for all Typing I students is between 35 and 40 words per minute. The following alwlards have been earned: Doris Rimel, 50, Rob- ert Nelson, 403 Suzanne Wet- more, 40. Shorthand I consists of 20 girls, Who are developing short- hand penmanship and accuracy in writing shorthand characters. They are taking new material at an average of 80 Words a min- ute.

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ORCHESTRA Bedford High school maintains a full symphony orchestra whose excellence is eviden-t both in public performances and in state contest-s. In 1941 the orchestra set a high standard for fu- ture years by achieving a superior rating in the state music finals. - A full iofrlchestraltion of 27 strings, 9 Woodwinds, and 9 brass and percussion is maintained. Nine players will be lost through graduation. This year's high spot for the group was the orchestra clinic held in Bedford in December Performers from southwest Iowa came together to be conducted bythe eminent N. De Rubertis. In January the Federated Women's 'Clubs of Bedford sponsored a local concert by the State Col- lege Symphony Orchestra under the 'direction of Alvin Edgar. Last year the school isponsorevd a trip by the orchestra to Des Moines to hear the Minneapolis Onchesitra, directed by Dimitri Mitropoulos.