Classical High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

Page 18 text:

14 Mrs. Frances Evans i Mrs. Gail Fiorentino Mr. Robert Donovan — shop . Mr. Thomas Dowd — social studies Mr. Robert Farr Mrs. Frances Evans — social studies Mr. David D , Mrs. Gail Fiorentino — science “Our ‘inner city’ experience should r. David Douglas —language help our graduates in the future.” : Mr. Robert Farr —science Miss Marilyn Freedman Mrs. Nancy Duffy — language “It is most gratifying to see the great student response to two new French courses this year—Conversation and Writing Workshop. I am currently teaching the Writing Workshop course and am most pleased with the results.” Miss Marilyn Freedman — math

Page 17 text:

Emphasis: Thirty-Five Years At Classical Mr. Howard Lynch has been serving the city as a Howard Lynch admits that he now teaches more Classical teacher for 35 years. Mr. Lynch assumed physics than he originally learned as a physics major the teaching position in 1940 and became chairman of at Harvard. While he was teaching Modern Physics at the Science Department in 1947. That year he also the Evening Division at Western New England College, married a former Classical student. he had to catch up and keep up in recent scientific developments. Mr. Lynch still keeps a sharp mind Mr. Lynch relates to us that,’’ None of my by reading the latest science journals. colleagues of 1940 are teaching now. But the Mr. Lynch once remarked that he became a science ‘Classical Tradition’ which they supported has been teacher because he likes science and people, and that maintained. It stands for serious study of the he has tried to make that into a creative combination. humanities — subjects required by colleges and needed Those who have had him as a teacher and as a friend by all pupils as training for critical thinking and must agree. self-expression. The student must learn what others have done and thought before he can make his ‘own thing’. And he has to be able to sell his idea.” ‘Another of our aims at Classical has been to fill the mental vacuum with those facts which will make a ‘good citizen.’ Courses in all schools have this bias. Our school motto has been: ‘Never do that which, if everybody did it, would destroy society. ’ To live up to this, one should not hurt anybody; this includes himself, his friends, and society in general. But our textbooks often identify ‘society’ with our free-enterprise business system and other free-world institutions. College students who admit their resentment to bias in education have demonstrated that their training has not deprived them of the ability to think. ... We like to take credit for the achievements of our graduates who exemplify the Classical tradition of serious purpose. This tradition is the continuing concern of our students, parents, teachers, and administrators.” Miss Ruth Dickerman Miss Ruth Dickerman — English Mrs. Susan Danton Mrs. Audrey Desrochers ‘The real purpose of education is to Mrs. Agnes Dinnie develop a trained, disciplined mind Mrs. Susan Danton —English Mrs. Audrey Desrochers — gym and to acquire an understanding Mrs. Agnes Dinnie — librarian heart. To attain that end, we must constantly resist all pressures toward mediocrity.” FACULTY 13

Page 19 text:

Emphasis: General Shop The General Shop course, open to eleventh and twelfth grade boys and girls, is basically an exploratory program. The students work at their own pace. Mr. Robert Donovan, the instructor of the course, explains, ‘‘We try to show students the general things related to practical domestic needs such as how to handle tools and how to purchase lumber.”’ Because the course is exploratory in nature, many areas of shop work are introduced. They consist of woodworking, sheetmetal and wrought iron work, and foundry and welding skills. The students strive to complete at least one project in the wood or metal field. Jim Lessard, a junior, worked on a special wood shop project. Using plans drawn up by Mr. Donovan and himself, Jim spent most of the autumn month building a full-sized desk. Jim doesn’t feel that his interest in woodworking will lead to a career. ‘I took shop because I like working with wood. It’s like a hobby. I chose to do the desk because I wanted to see if I could build it — it was a personal challenge.” The success of the shop course at a liberal arts school such as Classical can be easily explained. Mr. Donovan feels that the students view shop as an avocation. Also, students realize that they derive practical skills from the course. The aims of the General Shop course are successfully met. And each year, both male and female students have the chance to broaden their technical skills for personal satisfaction. Ms 0 - Mrs. Florence Hallbourg ¢ ‘ € : 4 ef Dr. Jeannette Harris Mss. Florence Hallbourg — math Dr. Jeannette Harris — social studies “To be honest, I have a fading inter- est in teaching ‘new’ courses per se. I am beginning to believe that ‘old’ courses, such as United States Histo- ry must be made more interesting and of more value to students and to teachers. Hence, why not incorporate new and vibrant ideas into an exist- ing course rather than continually beginning a ‘new’ course. So many of the ‘new’ courses are like shots in the arm that dilute themselves in the main stream of things and slowly lose strength.” Mr. Frances Girr Mr. Richard Guzowski Mr. Frances Girr — English Mr. Richard Guzowski — science “Classical’s downtown location pro- : vides it with an excellent laboratory | to study many urban environmental problems such as air, noise, and wa- ter pollution.” ! : FACULTY 15