Buchanan High School - Pines Yearbook (Buchanan, MI)

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l14l The general course in industrial arts offers its students the oppor- tunity to become acquainted with different types of activities and to draw up a better idea of what . they wish to make their life work. It gives each student the chance to develop some use of the tools and machinery of which our shop consists. The shop is divided into three different di- visions: the metal department, the wood depart- ment, and the mechanical drawing department. In the metal department the students experience such tasks as forging, hammering, piecing, sawing, and etching. Some of the machines found in this de- partment, are the engine lathe, tlze spot welder, and e- the grinding machine. In the wood department the observer will find elementary wood work and cabinet construction being done. The instruments used by this department are the band saw and saw bench. In mechanical drawing, two years of geometric and machine shop drawing are taught, a work which is found to be very difficult. One will also find in connection with these three subjects some electrical work and the casting and molding of small objects in cement. Mr. Ray Miller, the industrial art instructor, has charge over all the work done in our shop and is found to turn out many good handicraft students, girls as well as boys. Last summer Mr. Miller completed his A. B. degree at Western State Teachers College. The study of home economics is essential to almost anyone in his or her life. The department in the Buchanan High Schcol is under the direction of Miss Helen Krebs, who last summer studied at Columbia University, progressing to- wards her master's degree. This department in the school is one of the most active. The course is elective to high school students, both girls and fellows, and is required of the girls of the eighth grade. The girls of the senior high school may take three years which consist of food preparation, clothing, and home management. The girls develop interest in participating in home-making ideas and increase their appreciation of the qualities of character that is especially significant in home and community life. To aid the girl in gaining a conception of home making as a vocation skilled labor, expert management, scientific knowledge, and a good mental attitude are required. Buchanan High School is the only school in the county that gives a full year course to the boys. This is the third year that it has been offer- ed to the fellows. Their work consists mostly of food preparation. The study in this department insures one a more abundant life in ac- cordance with individual capacity for ambition. The Buchan- an High School's physical educa- tion program is divided into two separate depart- ments: one for the boys, direct- ed by Mr. John Miller, and one for the girls, di- rected by Miss Henry.

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Art is the expression of energy in terms of .. beauty. Appreciation of good art and merchandise is the aim of the classes taught by Mrs. Imhoff, in- structor of art in our school. The method used to appreciate art is doing, and only by doing can we see the difficulties of designers and workers of art. Expression of art is accomplished through design, composition, figure drawing, and color. Design is the foundation or plan of the creation the designer or artist makes. The elements of de- sign are used in all forms of art such as architec- ture, painting, sculpture, interior decoration, cos- tume, industrial design, and the decorative arts. Composition is the putting together of line, dark and light, and color. In figure drawing human models are sometimes used. The art students or other pupils pose. The color wheel of the five principal colors--red, yellow, green, blue, and violet-is extensively studied. Many posters are made for school events, and this year posters illu- strating Book Week were entered in contests including the grades from the fifth through the eighth. Prizes were given by the city library. This year, from the money left by the art club, a new block print ma- chine was purchased. This machine makes block prints on linoleum and cloth. Mrs. Eunice Imhoff, who taught art the first semester, was succeeded by Miss Eleanor Groh the second semester. Under the untiring efforts of our director, Mr. Ralph Robinson, the music department has completed one of its most successful years. The addition of a drum major, and three baton twirlers during the year 1938-39, has greatly im- proved the looks of the Buchanan High School band. Enjoying more popularity perhaps than any other organization in the high school, the band paraded upon many occasions in order to serve the com- munity and the school. Their presence at the foot- ball and basketball games has become almost a necessity as the band forms a large part of the cheering section. The Buchanan High School band acted as host to many other schools in Berrien County at the an- nual band festival in May. Mr. Robinson has started a band for beginners which now consists of forty students. These students are the future members of the high school band. The orchestra, consisting of twenty-eight members, also played for different organizations in and around Buchanan. Nearly all of the plays and public performances at the high school were opened by the music of the orchestra. The orchestra has been greatly improved this year by the addition of violas, cellos, and string basses. The glee club has been keeping up with the times with their modern versions of modern songs. The first half of the year was spent in pre- paration for the annual musical revue. The latter half was spent in pre- paration for the glee club festival which was held in Dowagiac. Mr. Robinson attended summer school at Western State Teachers College last summer. l13l

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The purpose of this department is to develop these young boys and girls into strong and healthy ladies and gentlemen as well as to build up sportsmanship and cooperation. The girls' curriculum consists of soccer, fieldball, basketball, soft- ball, tennis, and track. There are also formal gymnastic work and figure marching combined in these different sports. The boys' curriculum, directed by Coach Johnny Miller, consists of football, basketball, track, softball, formal gymnastic work, marching, and calisthenics. At the end of the school year these two departments combine in demonstration at a gym show. A most important factor in the progress of the school is the work done by the school nurse, Mrs. Lamb. In her office arm bruises, sore toes, and drippy noses, receive attention. Here each year eyes are tested, teeth and throats are examined, and all grade children are weighed and measured periodically, reports being sent to the parents with the report cards. With the cooperation of the local doctors, preventive serums are given for diphtheria and vaccinations for smallpox and tuberculosis. Children, whose parents are unable to afford a family dentist, have their teeth cared for by the school dentist, Dr. Wertheimer. Each morning Mrs. Lamb receives all grade children whom the teachers have found to need attention. The kindergarten children receive a complete physical examination each year. Among the many other duties of our school nurse is the superintending of the distribution of milk to the grade children at recess time. The fund is subscribed to by public spirited citizens and by local organizations. The commercial department under the instruction of Miss Lucille Quade and Mr. Earl Rizor helps to prepare the stud- ent for general office work. The courses offered in this field are general typing, which tends to develop typing for personal and vocational uses through the con- trol of the keyboard, habits of accuracy, and correct spelling, T . office practice is the continua- tion of this typing course plus the knowledge of ofiice procedure through continued practice of writing letters, mailing, filing, the use of the telephone and office machines, and the development of personal traits and correct office conduct. Also know- ledge of recording and budgeting which can be used not only by the pro- fessional man but also the housekeeper or ordinary business man, is taught. Shorthand is offered and gives the knowledge of characters and principles of shorthand and practice in taking dictation at moderate rates of speed. These subjects are directed by Miss Quade. Commercial law, which helps acquaint the student with that portion of law which is ap- plicable particularly to trade and commerce, and commercial arithmetic, which teaches the rules and methods for performing all calculations that arise out of business transactions, are taught by Mr. Rizor. Mrs. Marjorie Batchelor acts as secretary to the superintendent. l15l