Brackenridge High School - La Retama Yearbook (San Antonio, TX)

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Stratton Bennett I)i Pree 11 ENDERSON Beasley Burg Dirrktt A. James This Sophomore English class refuses to be disturbed by the photographer. The English Department THE teachers of English have been experimenting with a new course of study, which suggests several changes. English III and V are now courses in language—composition; English IV and VI, courses in reading—literature. During the term an exhibit was held, showing original literary maps, poetry, anthologies, and illustrated booklets of colonial life, Anglo-Saxon customs, and other interesting subjects. An effort is made in English III to enable the student to write good English, to speak fluently and clearly, to produce creative work, and to use correct English. In English V drill on functional grammar is given. The student is trained to present material that he has collected and organized and is encouraged to do original work. In English IV the emphasis is placed upon improving the student's reading skill and guiding him in the acquisition of 4'a rich and varied literary experience” by opening to him new and attractive fields of reading. In English VI, during the study of the representative work of great American Writers, the student is given some conception of the vastness and variety of literature and encouraged to “venture and explore.” Original essays, lyrics, and short stories are written. In English VII especially attractive booklets have been made, consisting of the best original work of the student, including one-act plays, ballads, cinquains, lyrics, and essays. English VIII stresses discrimination in reading, to enable the student to establish the habit of reading as a means of pleasure and development after he leaves high school.

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Mathematics BECAUSE mathematics is the foundation of all sciences and because it enters into every walk of life, leaving its peculiar stamp upon civilization, it is desirable that pupils should know what its general nature is and what people mean when they talk about percents, formulas, theorems or prisms. Rrackenridge Senior School offers excellent, opportunity for obtaining both the practical and cultural value of mathematics. The course in business arithmetic gives practice in the mechanics of arithmetic, teaches calculations in mensuration, percentage, and its application to various business forms. Algebra has been called generalized arithmetic, as it possesses many of the same properties and functions. It requires the same accuracy of thinking as geometry but less reasoning. Algebra is a highly correlated subject, with the formula, graph, directed number, and equation forming the main body of the work. The principal value of plane geometry arises from the fact that it exercises the reasoning power more and claims less from the memory. It develops power rather than acquisition of facts. It teaches how to apply geometric laws and discover new ones. Solid geometry, required for entrance to engineering schools, is offered in Rrackenridge. The practical utility of trigonometry is great. It has a large number of genuine and interesting applications. It is so widely used in the exact sciences that it has been called the back-bone of applied mathematics. The study of trigonometry offers a good field for the training of students in accuracy and affords excellent practice in numerical calculations. Abbott Prey Lancaster Smith Cory K. James Norman Simmers Demonstratins; a problem under Miss Lancaster’s supervision.

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English, Journalism, Public Speaking SINCE journalism has become a college credit subject, its enrollment has increased noticeably. Tin first year’s work consists of news writing and news editing. The second year is feature writing and editorial writing with much work in The Times office for practical experience. This year The Times won the highest honor possible, the Medalist award, at the Columbia Scholastic Press Conference. After this year public speaking will be a prerequisite for debate and dramatics. It aims to give the students experience in the organization and delivery of original speeches. The department participates in many inter-school competitions which prepare the students for Interscholastic League events. Last year Frank Kosson was victorious throughout the season and won for Bracken ridge the state cup in extemporaneous speaking. Debate is a favorite subject in this school, due to the successful record of our debate teams and because a number of debaters trained in Brackenridge have made the University of Texas debate teams. This year Brackenridge was declared city champion in debate when the other city high schools, for the first time in history, failed to compete. This makes Brackenridge the city champion in debate for the ninth consecutive year. In the district meet both teams were victorious. The Dramatic Department aims to give each member a polish in diction, to overcome all self-consciousness, and to offer a new field for enjoyment. In the Interscholastic League Contest last year, Brackenridge won first place in the stale with its one-act play, “The Hour Glass” Kocii Ch. Lawrence Ce. Lawrence Lehmberg Miller Barksdale Dickey Roselle Librarian and student assistants at their daily tasks in the stack room.