High School of Commerce - Caduceus Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

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Science Students Learn Mysteries of Nature Biology, Physics, and Chemistry are among the offer- ings of the Commerce Science Department. Using the latest equipment, such as Geiger counters, anatomical models and the like, the scientists enjoy investigating the mysteries of life. Science is a field which is always fascinating to the alert student, because it offers something new and exciting every day. There is no thrill quite comparable to that of seeing a hydra or an amoeba under the microscope for the first time or getting a greater understanding of the mechanism of the body by dissecting a frog. Practical experimentation and observation are stressed in the Commerce Science Department by activities such as these. Students of Physics, for example, illustrate principles of levers and pulleys by rigging up an apparatus which enables a small girl to outpull four or five strong hoys; chemists learn how to synthetize sub- stances by putting them together in the test tube; Biology students have a model human being with which to work, a model which can be taken apart piece by piece to show the positions and appearance of all the organs of the body. When a student has taken the offerings of the Com- merce science department, he has an excellent basis not only for understanding the fundamentals of the physical world around us, but also for progressing to advanced work in all fields. This year for the first time in its history the Com- merce Science Department held a Fair, with more than 150 students displaying their skill. Hundreds of parents and friends attended the exhibit to marvel at the skill of Commerce students demonstrating their knowledge of insect life, health, transportation, atoms, and other facets of science. A »tm!ent drmonutrate the uw of radioactive inotope with a Gcijrcr Counter in learning about plant . 21

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Theorems and Axioms Are Mathematician's Meat In the Mathematics Department of the High School of Commerce, students get careful and accurate training in Plane Geometry, and in Elementary and Ad- vanced Algebra. Preparing the Commerce pupils for college entrance, the department gives a thorough grounding in mathematical work required by higher institutions. The Geometry course offers basic theory in construction and analysis of plane figures, while in Algebra I. equa- tions. graphs, square root, and so forth are introduced. Algebra II includes more advanced work, such as quadratic equations, logarithms, binomial theorem, and the like. A geometry problem turn out well ut the blackboard. Language Students Develop Spanish, French Skills There are many Commerce students who could go abroad tomorrow to Marseilles or Barcelona, Paris or Madrid, and be perfectly at ease order- ing ham and eggs or thanking a host or giving directions to a taxi driver, for numerous Commercites have become proficient in Spanish and French in their study of these courses. Not only do they learn the languages, they also make a serious survey of the culture, history, and traditions of the countries where these two “romance” languages are spoken. 20

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Art Department Inspires Creativity Whether it’s posters for a school event, whether it's Christmas decorations, or whether it's just painting for fun, the Commerce Art Department, directed by Miss Kuth J. Marsden. is always ready and able. Students in the Art Department can develop not only their creative ability, hut may also learn the fundamen- tals of commercial art. Situated in a spacious room on the third floor of the High School of Commerce, the Art Department has every facility to stimulate students to create: easels, water col- ors. oil paints, chalk. Imliu ink. and inspirational paint- ings from the past. Art cl » member diligently kcteh nt their work. Musicians Produce Dulcet Harmonies Three mu»icl n work t developing their «kill. One subject at Commerce that is fun as well as work is music. Under the direction of Mr. Walter I). Nicker- son, the John Philip Sousas. Louis Armstrongs. Lily Ponses, and Artur Kubinsteins of the future often receive their starts. Generous Commerce will even furnish in- struments. and free lessons for those who wish to learn. 22