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

Page 33 text:

Department of History THE Department of History in Brackenridge is spending much of its energy this year upon a new project. The usual “Term Papers” have been shelved for the interesting task of discovering the books on historical subjects contained in San Antonio's excellent Public Library. The purpose of this study is to find the possibilities of the library, and to make a complete list of suitable books with a short criticism of each. This list is to be used by all students in the History Department of Brackenridge High School. The method pursued is this: First, the whole card index of the library is carefully searched, and every possible title listed, with author, publisher, date of publication and call number attached. Then these lists are classified according to World, American, and English History, and Civics. Again, these are subdivided for travel, biography, and history. A miscellaneous list is kept handy for those books difficult to classify. Next, in each history class a list is taken, leaders selected, books obtained from the library, examined and commented on by oral reports in class and written criticisms. From this work the permanent list will be made. This ambitious project may require two school years to complete, but the History Department will not lack enthusiastic workers. Much interest is already aroused, as the large number of books seen on desks and tables testifies. The slogan of the working group is, “Know Your Public Library!” The Brackenridge spirit of enterprise may well be trusted to accomplish this end. Jary Coi.EGATE Hyde Mere ii ei,i. Barron Half. King Plum mer The photographer is invited in even when a history exam is in full swing.

Page 32 text:

Alsup Andrews Davis Jonas Anderson Barron 11 ARWELL Rust Busy, happy and most profitable hours are spent in our sewing classes. Practical Arts Til E Practical Arts in Brackenridge include home economics in its several branches, manual training. mechanical drawing, architectural drawing, and free-hand lettering. The latter has been added as a separate course this year. All of these subjects train the hands as well as the mind. As practice is essential in any art, the students learn to do by doing. The broad aim of these courses is to help prepare the students for useful pursuits, constructive thinking, and home making. Our home economics courses do more than teach the girls to cook and sew. In fact, only about two-fifths of the time is spent on cooking and sewing; the other three-fifths is devoted to the study of worthy home membership, character training, citizenship, the financial problems of feeding and clothing a family, designing and selecting clothing, textile study, and leisure time problems. Interior decoration teaches the girls to plan and furnish a home. The increased enrollment in this department is evidence of the worthwhile work it is doing. This year the wood-working classes made the new score boards for athletics and constructed additional stage properties. For the first time, the school system provides the instruments for mechanical drawing, which makes this training available for more students. At the chapter exhibit of the American Institute of Architects, held at Witte Museum, an exhibit of work by senior school architectural students was included. Lettering students have done pen lettering for the library and English Department, and have also made numerous posters for school affairs.

Page 34 text:

The Commercial Department THE Commercial Department has always been second in number of pupils enrolled, the English Department only registering a larger number. The scholastic standing of the graduates of this department is equal to that of any other group in school. Eighteen courses are offered: two years each in shorthand, typewriting, and bookkeeping; one year in comptometry; one term each in Business English, arithmetic, geography, and law. Graduates of the stenographic division arc prepared, and often do enter upon their duties in a business office without further training. In the advanced course, students are assigned as stenographers and typists to teachers and school officials. Teachers cooperate with the instructor in making the assignments of definite training value, both from the standpoint of work well done and the development of habits of industry, neatness, reliability, and initiative. We believe that typewriting, at least, should be a part of the equipment of every high school graduate. In the Commercial Law course, the fundamental principles of law as applied to practical business transactions are taught to an increasing number of students each year. In Business English, our objective is to give the student a knowledge of terms, and that familiarity with the construction of business letters which will enable him to compose effective business letters. The first year of Bookkeeping gives the student a knowledge of those principles which he needs in order to attend to his personal business intelligently. The complete course fits him for a position as bookkeeper in the small business office. Childrkss Johnston Mki.ton Goodwin Lkwis Wharton A busy hour in the Comptometer class.