Brookline High School - Murivian Yearbook (Brookline, MA)

Page 26 text:

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

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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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French Department During the several years since the now almost forgotten ? of 1936 in the old building, the French Department, al- nigh firmly united in spirit and purpose, has been physi- ly separated, occupying rooms in out-of-the-way nooks and Jinnies all over the school building. Now, however, the jrious parts of the department have emerged from hiding, I ited in a group, and are again forging ahead with true ench spirit as if there had been no change. Its new home the first floor space once occupied by the Mathematics De- rtment before moving into the new building. These rooms e among the school’s most modern, and in the new sur- undings a fine start is being made to a bigger and better ture. The French Department was probably hardest hit by the e, in that large quantities of valuable books, magazines, id bric-a-brac brought back from France were destroyed, owever, in Room 123 the pieces saved from the devastation the fire and water have been gathered together to make ifresh start toward a new French museum. Thrilling World ar posters once more adorn the walls; and the 1939 num- ;rs of various French periodicals furnish a reading library om which the student may learn much, not only of French, it of world affairs as seen through French eyes. Thus rapid S ' Ogress is being made toward creating in each pupil a sense international understanding and good will. French being the language of international diplomacy and uch of the world’s fine literature, as well as the native tongue of a large portion of the earth’s inhabitants, is nat- urally greatly in demand from both college-preparatory and non-college students. The courses range from two to four years, the latter fulfilling very advanced requirements. Brook- line French students have made an outstanding record in col- lege, those with only three years’ training often leading advanced classes and several going on to become teachers. In keeping with the law of supply and demand, this pop- ular subject boasts the largest personnel of any foreign lan- guage department in the school. It has nine faculty mem- bers: Miss Louise Gambrill, long-time head of the depart- ment; Miss Geneva Chamberlain; Mrs. Hilda Donahue De- Nood; Mr. Paul Mather; Miss Kathryn O’Brien; Miss Eliz- abeth Paine, who has not taught this year because of illness; Miss Marguerite Pfleghaar; and Miss Jane Ricker, who has been away on leave of absence. Close contact is kept with the two-year preliminary course offered in the grammar schools. Following the progressive practice, very prevalent among the various departments of Brookline High School, of stimu- lating interest in allied extra-curricular activities, the French Department maintains organizations which are able to sup- plement the class work by presenting additional material dealing with French life and customs that can be only briefly presented in class due to the very full programs for each year. This year all efforts in this direction have been con- concentrated only on Le Cercle Francais. I - (KM 1 u 1 L i SEATED: Mr. Mather, Miss O ' Brien, Miss Pfleghaar. STANDING: Miss Donahue, Mrs. Jacques, Miss Perrin, Miss Chamberlain. 17