Chelsea High School - Beacon Yearbook (Chelsea, MA)

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; COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT The ma or activities of the commercial department go on apace with typing, shorthand, bookkeeping and office pracbce taking up most of the time, he outstanding accomolishmenr of the year has been the correlation of stenography and typewriting ir the junior year. In former years the sub¬ jects were taught separately in the junior year of the high school, and the student had a different teache r for each subject. Therefore the juniors actually had no ooporturity to see the relation between stenogra¬ phy and tyoewriting as if exists in the business world. Theoretically, the pupil knew she would be requires to transcrioe her shortnand notes Into ionghsnd but •he prac ' cal work of transforming a page of steno¬ graphic outlines into a properly spaced letter with correctly spefed words paragraphing, and punctua¬ tion was not presented unn! the senior year. This year tne commercial curriculum has beer- changed in tnis respect. The beginning student has been assigned the same teacher in both subjects in oroer that correlation between stenography and type¬ writing should commence at an early stage in the learning process. In the fail the student began to typewrite supplementary words relating to the steno¬ graphic principles she was learning. These words were different from those in the textbook, and Increased the vocabulary in longnand as well as shorthand. This practice also helped to eliminate the strangeness be¬ tween the phonetic spelling : n stenography and the actual spellmg in longhand, which had a tendency to confuse some of the students. Before the first quarter was over, the student was giver an opportunity to transcribe correct sienogra- phy from the textbook into sentences and paragraphs During -he second and third quarters one period each week was devoied to transcription. The letters in -he Gregg Manual were used so that the student could see the shorthand letter she had been writing fo r homework set up ana typewritten. A vague idea of CLARKC- HARRfS MALONE SHAROOO stenography, in this way, became concrete and definite. The matter of proper spacing, correct spe ling ounctualicn, usage of common forms in letter writing gained prominence in the rrind of the studert. Steno¬ graphy became a vocational subject at once, and type writing ceased to be the automatic copying of words. A new interes- in bc ' h subjects manifested itself anc gave added impetus to the efforts c the students. The teacher having the student In both these related subjects was dole to discern individual weaknesses and ccrrec them. Incioentaily, -he ccrrele ,: on between English and commercial work received new emphasis ' . A practical advantage which one of the st udents mentioned is the confidence gained If an opportunity of summer work should be present. The students rea¬ lize that they have not attained the speed the seniors have acquired and the ' another year at school is re¬ quired for that purpose. COMMERCIAL DEPT.

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SOCIAL STUDIES Tie vocifl studies, a very im¬ portant part of every high school ■ idc:rst ' s curriculum, deal realis- ■ •: ly with current, unsolved prob¬ lems of ou r society. Tnese studies become oi prime importance er - pecia ly during war times. Our department includes Commercial Geography Economics, Problems of Democracy, and history. Only by viewing eacn one of these sep¬ arately can we really appreciate their value. Although geography is offered solely to commercial students in the sophomore year, its Impcr fance can In no way be mini¬ mized. In fact, even the President advises its study so that Americans GF.ARAN ISRAELITE MacMiLLAN STEARNS HU8NER LEADER OBRIEN THOMPSON Problems? Blues in the night. may understand the difficulties presented by our current war prob¬ lems. Only recently have the American people realized how neces¬ sary is the knowledge of distribution of raw materials and natural resources, and of marketing goods and prices. The students are even taught the different seasors in which certain products are marketed and the related prices arc increased. The study of this subject is becoming more essentia! every day. Economists have become the most valuable men in our capital. By reviewing the topics covered in economics, we can easily understand this. The course in economics includes the practical aspects of con¬ sumption, the problem of production, the organization of industry, and many other problems of current importance. Of special notice are the discussions dealing with wages, labor, rent, insurance, anci taxation. The problems covered are of such varied nature that they could never all be enumerated. The aims, however, are to prepare the student so that he may meet more successfully the problems of today and the future. There is no doubt that democracy will endure and succeed if our citizens are interested enough to inform themselves and to study current issues in order to find a reasonable course of action based on sound and logical information. Such is the task of Problems of Democracy. This subject is devoted to the training of citizens in civic affairs. Therefore, debates on local as well as national issues are held. Discussions are also conducted or the constitutionality of laws, and on civic problems. This department develops a better equipped and more efficient citizen. History consists no longer of a series of lessons, dates, and famous names to be memorized. The modern study of this subjec deals with the consequences of the acts passed by Congress, or the differ ent technological revolutions rather than the events themselves. Besides, a thorough study of the Constitution and of our great heri¬ tage is included. Thus, h istory becomes one of our most interesting subjects not only because of the classroom discussions but also cf the oral topics given by the pupils. Every student who graduates should be well acquainted with the history cf this great nation. Orly this way will he be able to appreciate the hardships endured by our ancestors before our present system could be efficiently devised. SOCIAL STUDIES

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ENGLISH Th o aims in the teaching of English remain much the same BURNETT COHEN KINTZ McCarthy STEWART BLIGH CARROLL COX KUHN RIGNEY during war and peace. Speaking, reading, writing and listening are no different in one period than they are in another, but the needs of a given period select new content and pack new meaning into old material. Fortunately we have avoided hastily conceived plans for substituting special courses and units on war aims that are likely to lead to confusion in teaching and be productive of little genuine value to students. However, we recognize that we have a specific contribution to make toward winning the war and insuring the victory of democratic ideals. Through reading and discussion we help young people to realize what the United States is fighting for by developing and understanding of democratic ideals and by stimulating devotion to them. The ideals include a respect for the dignity and worth of the individual and are concerned with the basic principles of the Bili of Rights. Because our battle for democratic principles is only a part of mankind ' s long struggle for freedom, we need to use materials which present that struggle in ail parts of the world as well as in our own. We are developing the skills essential to participation in demo¬ cratic life through classroom practice in group thinking and decision, through teaching the techniques of public and pane! discussion, through emphasis upon the need for precision and honesty in the use of larguage in reading and reporting ard in the expression of ideas in speech and writing. Also the teaching of English promotes national unity through the recognition of the contribution of diverse cultural groups to cur national culture and through emphasis of the contribu¬ tion America has made to each of them. The teaching of English in war time also concerns itself with the needs of the incividual for social and personal adjustment. It de¬ velops linguistic skills essential to the carrying ou of democratic principles of living. In he expressional phases of English, discussions of personal and social problems produced by the present war are encouraged and problems of mental hygiene kept constantly in mind. Among these is the personal adjustment of individual boys and girls to the tension in family life due to anxiety about the war. Attitudes of fortitude can be built up by reading and discussion and emotional preparation for the shocks of war may be promoted. FRENCH DEPARTMENT The French department has a gigantic task in this present war torn world. It must maintain its standard of scholarship, for it has Domestic and Parlez-vous Francais? . . . Neither can we.