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

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16 Future Drivers What does it take to be an efficient driver? Sure, you can learn to drive from your short-tempered and impatient father or your nervous mother who screams and clutches the seat as you simply “touch” the gas pedal, but most students choose a better way: they enroll in Mr. Tipton’s driver education course. In his popular course, Mr. Tipton teaches teenagers how to become safe, efficient drivers. The course replaces the thirty hours classroom instruction from an independent driving school, and a certificate is awarded if the requirements, an eighty percent average and near perfect attendance, are met. Unless a student hates to miss one term of gym, there are few disadvantages to taking driver education at Classical as opposed to a driving school; on the contrary, there are several benefits. Mr. Tipton feels that he teaches a better course because there is no boring repetition for new admissions, as in the driving schools. Since all classes are during school time, no extra time is required out of school, and the student still benefits from an auto insurance reduction. Perhaps most important of all, however, is that this free course offers a more thorough training than do courses given by a driving school which charges. With the additional use of audio-visual aids such as films, charts, diagrams, and models, Mr. Tipton presents a very thorough course which is needed greatly today to help reduce the very high rate of teenagers killed per year in automobile accidents. The course helps prevent the precious lives of students from being wasted. Mr. Tipton sums it up best, “In we Mrs. Julia Beverly — math Mrs. Florence Hallbourg — math taking this course, you can either save money or your life. If either of these things are important, then the course is Mr. Michael Ligarski — math worthwhile.” Mr. Daniel Meder - social studies Miss Mary Morris —social studies

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Mrs. Helen Landry — language Math That Matters Consumer Math, in its third year at Classical, was designed to give college preparatory students a greater understanding of the practical applications of mathematics to everyday life. According to Mrs. Julia Bale, chairman of the Math Department and one of the teachers of Consumer Math, four major topics are covered in the course — taxes, insurance, credit, and banking. Matters of current interest, such as shopping, budgets, and money management are discussed. Innovative techniques, including speakers, films, and records are widely used in the Consumer Math course, providing students with an insight into the actual workings of the system, its good points as well as its faults. Research projects are another vehicle by which students are informed on such matters as credit policy. By actually visiting retail stores, credit unions, and insurance companies, students gain firsthand knowledge of the financial conditions of the community. Mrs. Bale does not use a textbook in teaching Consumer Math, preferring instead to use publications on insurance and credit distributed by such corporations as Household Finance and current articles in Changing Times magazine. Mrs. Bale emphasizes that the course is constantly changing, adapting to current financial conditions. Mr. James Nodurf — math Mr. Arnold Matz — language Mr. Neil Yesu — assist. principal Mr. John Sawyer — English FACULTY 15

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Social Studies and mathematics are two very valuable courses, helping one not only through school but, more signifi- cantly, throughout life. Both Mrs. Julia Bale, chairman of the math depart- ment, and Dr. Jeannette Harris, chair- man of the social studies department, seem to agree that their courses prepare the student for future educational ad- vancement as well as citizenship. By gaining background in social studies and mathematics, it is hoped that the student will find future success in these areas, thereby finding life more rewarding, as well. Social Studies The Social Studies program at Classical High School is designed to give stu- dents a broad background in those areas of study which deal with one’s relationship to self and one’s relation- ship and interaction with diverse peo- ple within the United States and throughout the world. The hope is that a student not only will understand bet- ter the relationship to self and others but also will develop an awareness of social institutions formed as a result of these human interactions; and, thusly, will find alternative ways of coping with problematical situations that might arise in one’s life. To attempt to reach these goals our Social Studies de- partment encourages the study of the past as a foundation for understanding events of today and as a source of in- formation for planning the future; gives the opportunity to examine peo- ples’ diverse life styles not only to show socio-cultural differences but also to emphasize similarities within humanity; offers an introduction to contemporary events and career plan- ning through the specialized study of Psychology, Economics, Law, Govern- ment, Black History, and Urban Soci- ology; and demands the study of this nation’s history as a necessary ingredi- ent for citizenship education and as a precursor to adequate community and national involvement. Mathematics Since when they hear such terms as “polar coordinates” math students are apt to think that their teacher formerly taught in an igloo inside the Arctic Cir- cle, it’s no wonder many of them have been frightened away from pursuing C.P. math beyond the required three years. However, innovations in the curriculum and in teaching techniques, including math labs and games, have recently helped students to succeed in the study of mathematics. According to Mrs. Julia Bale, chairman of the math department, Classical stu- dents can pursue math through calcu- lus, but few students take advantage of this opportunity, in part because of the abstract reasoning involved. To en- courage greater numbers of students to study math, Mrs. Bale has sought to bring math study to a more practical level in several ways, one of which has been the institution of a Consumer Math course designed to help students cope with real-life situations involving mathematics. Mrs. Bale notes, as well, that the study of math is an excellent preparation for the study of science, and aid to reasoning, and even a guide to understanding the culture of the world. Preparation For Future Advancement And Citizenship Mrs. Mary Mushok — math so Mr. Richard Pare — math Y Mr. James Phaneuf — math Mr. John Sullivan — math Mr. William Young — social studies FACULTY 17