Binghamton North High School - Wampum Yearbook (Binghamton, NY)

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dents in the A classes have volun- tarily spent approximately 90 hours outside of school hours doing typing and other office work in Red Cross and CVD offices. Today the war has created a greater need for capable typists and secretarial Workers in ex- panding war industries, in Govern- ment offices and the armed forces. The Science Department con- tributes much to the American Way of life in times of peace or war. The scientists learn the prime necessity of order. Moreover, science gives to the world chemicals, metals, and machines, information needed about weather conditions, and the essential new materials such as Nylon, plastics, synthetic rubber, dyes, etc. Another important feature of science training is that it encourages the pupil to doubt a statement heard or seen until it is supported by proofg a good test for malicious propaganda. The Industrial Department is con- cerned chiefly With developing skills, both mental and physical that will contribute to making a living. The materials, processes and class pro- cedure of the department brings trainees face to face with concrete problems of increasing difliculty and importance. This provides an ideal learning situation in which the pupil may understand all the elements at hand before trying for the solution. Too often the reason for failure to

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What Were Fzlglatin For American High School Typical of American Way of Life North High is a typical American high school. We, here at North, represent an individual community of about 1,500 people. We are a world within our walls! But we are a democratic world. We do not live under the rule of a dictator. To keep from this fate we live in an American manner. We fight to preserve this life. While, in a totalitarian country, the instructors are guided by a go Jernment agent, our teachers are free to teach in the manner they choose, the things found in a variety of books. In nations across the waters, the pupils listen to the Leader's version of their countryis history. Here we read impartial texts of our own coun- try's and other countries' history. Our parents can give us their versions of the past events. In a belligerent nation the views on even the oldest subjects are restrained by powerful troopers. At North the education is divided into eleven fields. All these divi- sions help to do their part in living the American Way. Perhaps the most evident field is the physical education group. In this department, students, both boys and girls, learn to work and play together-to win and lose, to accept adverse and favorable conditions. They are able to choose their own leaders and are enabled to work with as much freedom as possible. They learn to be-as Americans should be-tolerant of others. Physical education gives an opportunity for development of expression of personal powers of inspiration and for right action under stress of emotions. It builds up the student's capacity for accepting responsibility. The most apparent benefit of this course is the fact that it builds fine bodies and teaches all to give and take and to work hard if success is to be attained. It teaches them the competitive spirit-necessary in war. Another important phase of school life is the Commercial Depart- ment. This department enables a student to coordinate his mental and physical abilities to do the task as best he can-a quality which is needed by everyone in order to make his living in our democratic World. The fol- lowing attributes of American character: Industry, skill, and initiative, have long been goals of this department. In the Shorthand II and Secre- tarial Practice classes the participants are trained to step into positions immediately upon the completion of the course. Throughout these courses the students learn to be good citizens as well as to do their share in making America a better place in which to live. As an example of this, the stu- DSA 16

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solve a problem is the failure to un- derstand its elements! The contribu- tions of machine shops to the defense industries is very direct, obvious and specific. There my be some question as to the value of art courses in this time of war. What are we fighting for unless it is to maintain our democra- tic way of life which certainly em- ploys art in every field? Without art there would be nothing worthwhile living, fighting for. Putting beauty into the simplest things goes to make up the large, more beautiful things of this world. The unity of one Axis nation to- day may be based on the fact that all of its people are educated in a book manner and can create to their heart's content. They apply beauty to their lives, and, consequently, they are proving better foes than we ever expected. Another belligerent nation stowed her intellect and made mili- tary puppets out of her people so that they have little reason for cher- ishing anything except the destruc- tion of human life. Of the two, the one without beauty is breaking with- in itself and will soon deteriorate. Its leader, realizing this, frantically transported art from conquered na- tions but it was too late to inject beauty into the mind of trained can- nibals. Development of one's skills en- ables one to earn a living. The grow- ing American citizen wants education as a means of intellectual growth which will fit him for a life among people - civilized, humane, under- standing people. In addition to the subjects already mentioned there are many others such as English, history, language, and homemaking courses which do their obvious part for the American Way-The Right Way.