Boston Latin School - Liber Actorum Yearbook (Boston, MA)

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I HISTORY The orfranizntion of the Itoston Latin School hy de- partments allows and enconraKes specialization within : a certain area of educational activity, but collectively the several departments should strive to achieve the common objective of a liberal arts education. 1 Traditionally, history is one of the humanities, and necessarily the teaching of history is part of a genei ' al i ro- gram directed toward the education of the free man. The his- tory department, in this common endeavor has established specific objectives: (1) to encoui-age a critical approach lo the problems of history, (2) to present history as a dynamic subject, (3) to encourage independent reading and exploratory work beyond routine assignments, (4) I to develop the ability to interpret the present in the light i of past experiences, and (5) to train young men for the I duties and obligations of citizenship. At the same time, i the uniciue character of this school thrusts upon us a peculiar responsibility. We are training not only for citizenship but for leadership. Generations of leaders who have attended the Boston Latin School remind us j of the school’s great and challenging mission in this democracy. I In recen t years many students in the history depart- ment have brought honor to the school and to them- selves. Each year since 1947 a Latin School boy has won first prize in the Hearst American History Contest, and, for the past four years with the exception of one year, first prize in the Massachusetts Federation of Labor Conte,st. In the College Board examinations the results i have been creditable and satisfying. The Head of the history department appreciates the unselfish assistance and cooperation given him by the masters within the department. First Row: Messrs. Barry, Sullivan, Godfrey, Pearson (Dept. Head), Neinzoff, Gordon, Murphy. Second Row: Messrs. Avery, Powers, Burton, Bergen, Pheeney, Doherty, Rosenthal. I 15 I A MR. PEARSON Head of 1 c])(irfmntf ! I

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MR. LEVINE H ) iil of I r iKiit FRENCH ' riu ' Fi’ench Department has always been faced with two prol)Ienis: the first, that every student in our cho d is re(iuired to take French foi’ three years; the second, that a comparatively small number will choose the elec- tive Senior Fi-ench course. V’or the first three years the hb ' ench teachers strive to give students a sf)und under- standing of basic French, which consists of the gram- matical constructions of the language, the useful vocab- ulary of every-day life, necessary verb work, and the ability to understand S])oken French and to use it in ordinary conversation. The reciuired textual reading helixs to broaden the .student’s ho)-izon with reg:ard t(j the history, geogra])hy, and social life of France. In the fourth year of French the student is preparing for the College Board Achievement Test: and, he is gaining, in addition, proficiency in oral woid , in-omoted partly by the use of s])ecial phom-graph records. The “Cercle Francais, an extracurricular activity — with otticers chosen from the fourth-year students, but with many members from the three-year boys — has helped to bring honors to the French Department. Some of our outstanding students have been presidents of the French clubs of Harvard, Boston College, and Brandeis; and one of our to]) students won tir.st prize in the New England contest of the American Association of Teachers ' of French. At present we have two of our former .stu- dents on the faculty of the Pb’ench dei)artments of Har- vard and Bo. ton College. First Row: Messrs. Fitz( ieiald, Levine (Dept. Head), Sculfv, MeCiiLlin. Second Row: .Messrs. O’I.eary, Fontaine, Clark, Donovan.

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MR. CARROLL Hrad of I U jxtrtmcnt SCIENCE Four years of science are offered at Boston Latin School. In Class VI, science is mainly physiology and hygiene. Topics considered are composition and struc- ture of the body and the hygienic principles and prac- tices of good living in school and at home. Science, offered also in Class V, is usually called Gen- eral Science. The subject area deals with the materials and forces of Nature and Man’s utilization of them. Lec- ture demonstrations on such topics as air, water, weather, climate, heat, light, and sound illustrate basic principles. In the Senior year both physics and chemistry are offered. Classes are held five periods per week, including one devoted to laboratory work. Topics considered in physics include machines, heat, electricity, light, and sound. Chemistry deals with matter and its changes. Fun- damental laws and theories of chemistry, metals and non-metals, acids, bases, and salts, certain organic com- pounds, and related mathematical problems are some of the areas considered. IModern life and jirofessional training requires a good background in science for proper appreciation of prog- ress and invention. In fields such as medicine, dentistry, and engineering, scientific background is a prerequisite. B.L.S. students who hope to enter these vocations get good training. In addition to formal courses, the annual Boston Sci- ence Fair, IMassachusetts Science Fair, and similar activ- ities give students great oi)portunities to develop projects of their own intere.st and design. The Boston Latin School Science Club is an organization which permits students to discuss, consider, and demonstrate many subjects in which they are particularly intere.sted.