Breck School - Mustang Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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Assistant Headmaster doubles as a teacher 29

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LANGUAGES languages have always been an integral part of Breck’s academic program. Years ago, only two courses were offered; now there are four from which the student can choose— French, Spanish, Latin, and German. Actually, the language program extends as far back as the fifth grade where every student begins a two year introductory French course. In the First Form the pupil can continue his French course with Miss Raske, and. in later years, he can study French II, III, and IV with Mrs. Blackburn and Mr. Krenz. Thus a student may start French in fifth grade and continue until he is a senior. Many other courses in language are offered at Breck. In the seventh grade, the student may drop his study of French and begin taking Latin with Mr. Gesner. If he continues, he will take Latin II and III with Mr. Uram. In ninth grade, a boy may also choose to study either German or Spanish. The latter, taught by Mr. Uram, is a comprehensive curriculum which, in addition to the language itself, also tries to give the student a knowledge of the cultures of Mexico and Spain. A Freshman could also take upGerman, this year totally different from any other course in the school. Using ALM(Audio-Lingual Materials), Mr. Neher has developed an entirely unique and stimulating course. In his own words, “Ihe keynote of this approach throughout will be the individual student, and the entire structure, in which the conventional classroom group is virtually nonexistant, is oriented toward and for this individual.” The application of the program has been very interesting. The ALM materials have been divided into fifteen levels. The German student is given his book and. in effect, told, go to it.” Using his textbook, the Breck I inguage laboratory, and the help of Mr. Neher, the pupil proceeds through the course entirely at his own speed. This way, the fast student is stimulated to work and enjoy what he is doing and the slow student does not get lost by the wayside, overcome by materials that he didn’t understand but the rest of the class did. At the end of each unit, the student takes a test on which he must score 75% or better before proceeding. In this way, the student can cover as much as his ability will permit. When a student reaches the tenth level, completing the ALM Materials, he moves on into a completely different type of course: reading selected bcxiks from the Advanced Placement Reading List for German. There are no tests once a student reaches this level of learning. Thus the language program is expanding as fast as the school itself. 28

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HISTORY The aim of the Breck School History department is to teach a student to think critically regarding world history, especially with regards to current events. The individual viewpoint is stressed, as is the development of original and meaningful thought. History is first presented in the fourth grade, where an introducton background of United States geography and history is presented. More intensive courses along the same lines are to be found in the seventh and eighth grades. Modern European History is the Sophomore’s social science, followed in the Junior year with an extremely comprehensive American History course. The Seniors may choose a course in American Government as an elective, designed to acquaint him with the theory and manifestation of his nation’s politics. The history department, then, is a complete and thorough course of study planned to give the student a good understanding of the world he lives in. thereby making him a more rounded and usef ul citizen. 30