Birmingham University School - Equestria Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

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Library The completely new and rapidly growing library already has over 1900 volumes, which concentrate in reference works, biography and classics--as well as an unusual selection of national and international magazines and newspapers. Reading Classes Available to all students are remedial reading classes. Staffed by instructors especially qualified in this field, these classes provide greatly increased speed and comprehension. [ '7 ]

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Schol arships As a means of rewarding academic excellence and to encourage more superior students to attend Birmingham University School, five scholarships are at present awarded to outstanding students. The Nelson Page Hill Scholarships arc awarded to four students selected by a committee of teachers and trustees on the basis of character, grades, and general contributions to school life. These scholarships pay part of a student’s tuition for four years, providing that each recipient maintains a creditable record. The Trustees' Scholarship pays full tuition to one outstanding student selected on the same basis as the Nelson Page Hill Scholarships. The Board of Trustees may elect, however, to divide the scholarship among more than one student in case of approximately equal merit. It is expected that the scholarship program will continue to expand in order to provide assistance for more meritorious students. [ 16 ]

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Course of Study The curriculum of Birmingham University School is planned to offer the best possible preparauon for college entrance. It is the desire of the administration and faculty of the School that every student who graduates from BUS be able to enter the college of his choice and pursue any course of study with success. In order to do so, we believe that while in the lower grades--four through seven--the student must master the skills of reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic and obtain basic knowledge of history, geography, languages and science. In the upper grades--eight through twelve--he must receive both depth and scope in the traditional liberal arts: English, history, science, mathematics and languages. These requirements can be met in our program only by the study of these subjects each year. Thus, there are no electives at BUS, except that the student may choose the particular foreign language to be studied in each grade. Furthermore, there are no vocational courses, and extracurricular activities are limited to those that are of most certain educational value: student council, debate, athletics, student newspaper and yearbook. In pursuance of this course of study, each student in the lower grades studies six or more subjects each day. Beginning high school level courses are gradually being introduced into the eighth grade, leaving room for more advanced courses in the eleventh and twelfth grades. The present ninth, tenth and eleventh grade students are required to carry five academic subjects and approximately half of the students in the twelfth grade are carrying five. This requirement of five subjects will progress one grade each year, reaching the twelfth in 1962-63. As this required course of study becomes effective, more advanced courses will be offered in sciences, mathematics and history. Also, students will be permitted to choose between Latin and Greek for a minimum of two years of ancient language and among French. German, Russian and Spanish for a minimum of two years of a modern language. Those who begin in the eighth grade, therefore, will have five years of foreign language, as well as five years of high school level science courses. To make this type of curriculum feasible, each section of a grade is limited to a maximum of eighteen boys. This means that, in general, each class--except physical education--comprises eighteen or fewer. Each student receives individual supervision of his performance in the classroom and of his preparation of assignments. Homework is assigned with the expectation that each student will study diligently during the fifteen minutes of supervised study time at the end of each class, during his one or more study periods each day and at least two hours at home in the evening. Many students find that they need to devote more lime than that to study; others do more simply because they enjoy it. During the year of 1960-61 there are two sections of the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth grades, which permits assigning students to a section according to ability and academic progress. As the expansion of facilities permits, additional grades will be doubled until each grade has two or more sections. ( 8 ]