Brookline High School - Murivian Yearbook (Brookline, MA)

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(Uidance and Attendance Department t is particularly significant that the Guidance Department dosely connected with the Attendance Department, for letimes there arises a problem of attendance which can solved by friendly and sympathetic guidance. The old- ,e truant officer is dead! And with him has died the a of come to school or go to court , which has been ■laced by a spirit of cooperation and understanding ■igned to make better citizens for the world of tomorrow, an unexplained absence of more than seven days occurs, re will not be a uniformed officer on the doorstep; oh no! tead there will be efficient Mrs. Connelly pleasantly in- ring into the absence, searching for troubles which can removed or adjusted. Although her office of Attendance ervisor carries with it the authority necessary to enforce laws of the community, the motivating spirit is that helpfulness as shown by some twenty-five pairs of shoes tributed to needy children who otherwise would have ?n unable to attend school. This is evidence of the quiet olution that has taken place in our school system. In addition to being concerned with attendance, the idance Department, under the direction of Mr. John V. cett, is occupied with providing students with needed ormation on vocations and the relation between these ations and school curricula. The modern suite of rooms in the progressive new building is the scene of vocational talks by prominent men in various fields, forum-type dis- cussions conducted by Mr. Jewett, and a vocational work- shop, where students are able to learn about the nature and requirements of the various careers open to them. Here is given valuable information which is designed to aid a student in choosing a suitable vocation and then getting and keeping a position in the chosen field. Many new phases are continually opening up before this progressive department. This year has seen much progress in both the Guidance and the Attendance Departments, with the result that each of these two departments is more and more assuming a position of importance in the school life. These departments have caught the keynote in modern progressive education — individuality. Each student is an individual, and he is entirely unsuited for the assembly line” tactics that are, unfortunately, still employed by some of the large schools. The Guidance Department is serving progress through helping students to find the vocation most suited for each of them. It is serving the best interests of the school and taxpayers through guiding students to a wise choice of curriculum and to a fuller utilization of the opportunities and facilities that are placed before them by their school. 15

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Miss Berry Miss Linsky Miss Finn Miss Reynolds Miss Finnegan Executive Department r Fortunately for hmh-schoolers, the B. H. S. secretaries, J O who make up the Executive Department, serve as a sort of general information bureau and friend in need,’’ but their numerous other duties are not so well known. Miss Marion Berry is in charge of Headmaster Ringer ' s office and is his personal secretary. She developed her type- writing technique at Burdett College, and was awarded a gold medal for her proficiency and speed. She came to Brookline in 1931 as secretary to Miss Barnes and to Mr. Hines. Besides the office routine, Miss Berry takes Mr. Ringer ' s dictation, and attends to all matters pertaining to the faculty, their attendance and payroll. The various statis- tical reports sent in to Superintendent Caverly’s office and to the State House are also made out by Miss Berry. Miss Beatrice Finn has truly the marks of a Brooklinite, for she graduated from Runkle Grammar School and Brook- line High before attending Boston University, and then was secretary at Devotion School previous to her coming here. She is the registrar and has charge of all records. Your marks are recorded by Miss Finn and your every success and misdeed are under her supervision, as well as taking care of all college applications. Her interest in B. H. S. students is remarkable, and a Spanish Club meeting does not take place without her. Miss Miriam Linsky, another graduate of our high school, thought her Brookline days were over — but we are glad she came back. While here, she fiddled in the violin section? | our orchestra, and now she takes to golf and social studie: Miss Pierce Secretarial School prepared her for her secon j B. H. S. career. Miss Linsky’s work now consists of tf , daily office reports and supervision of the attendance of eve: pupil in the school. Miss Linsky is considered the school ' postmistress, for the directing of slips and letters to thei various destinations are in her hands. Miss Mary Finnegan has occupied the gymnasium offie for five years. She graduated from Mt. St. Joseph Academv and possesses a diploma from Bryant and Stratton Comme; 1 cial as well. She not only supervises sports, but participate in them herself, swimming and tennis being among those t claim her attention. Besides memorizing the P.F.I.’s of ever ! pupil. Miss Finnegan arranges all varsity, junior varsity, an: freshman sports. The physical education staff in the Be mentary Schools also depends on her for assistance in plar ning schedules. Miss Anne Reynolds returned to her Alma Mater as . stenographer after spending the intervening years in an ir surance office. Before inhabiting Mr. Kepner’s office sh: took charge of guidance work under Mr. Jewett. Now sh: does straight stenographic work, the history assignments ani other sheets being typed by her. She also helps Mr. GouL by typing the scripts for the radio programs. Her interest outside the office are gardening, tennis, and dogs.

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Miss Spaulding English Department Readin and ’riting reach their highest development in this department. Treating with a subject so fundamental as to be required every year of every student it is only natural that the English Department should be the largest in the School with some sixteen members. Ably captained by Miss Alice Howard Spaulding, this array of brainpower endeavors to instill a mastery of spoken and written English in small daily installments. The student’s appreciation of really good books is fostered and encouraged through a wide variety of required reading. In the College Preparatory divisions the work is carried on at an exacting standard in order to pre- pare the pupils for the College Board examinations. Fifth year English is the outstanding recent development in the course. The College Course instituted by Miss Lewis last year concentrates on presenting a general understanding of literature of England and America in relation to their respective backgrounds. Mrs. Henderson’s new course for Civic Curriculum students takes a much different approach. The emphasis lies upon acquiring a knowledge of the pro- cesses of a rapidly changing world, the ability to think and express oneself, and fixing habits of objective thinking re- garding contemporary problems. These general aims tie up with the more immediate ones of vocational guidance and a study of literary selections with a view of their application to real conditions. Mrs. Henderson is admirably suited for such work and the project though still in the experiment! stage bids fair for a great success. Elsewhere in the department progress is at work. Mis Spaulding was called to Bates College to give two course last summer, one on the appreciation of poetry and anothe on the teaching of English. In these she was assisted by M Flemings, who gave a demonstration of Choral Reading, an: by Mr. Seamans, who demonstrated remedial reading. M.s Spaulding has been called back to give two more courses tk. summer both on the teaching of English. Mr. Flemings L the fall at Jordan Hall gave his first public concert, ver satisfying to the students and faculty who attended. Ml Deal and Mr. Williams each had an article published f educational periodicals. The Department welcomed three new teachers this yea: Mr. Samuel Gould, who has talked his way to prominent: in the new radio group which he has organized while holding up his pedagogical duties very successfully; Mrs. Madg Scanned, who became a permanent member of the depart ment; and Mr. John Prior, w ' ho came to us in the Fall frorr Mount Hermon and was released at midyears to go to Mec ford High, his alma mater. Mrs. Viola Horrigan has beer taking his place for the second half year. Mr. Homer Hat bour, whose successful individual tutoring project unfortui ately had to be terminated, is now ' on leave of absence. I SEATED: Miss Sawyer, Miss Lewis, Miss Spaulding, Miss Deal, Miss Johnson. STANDING: Mrs. Harvey, Mr. Flemings, Mr. Gould, Miss Allen, Mr. Williams, Mr. Wilkinson, Mrs. Henderson, Mr. Newsom, Mr. Hammond, Mrs. Scannell 16