Des Moines Technical High School - Engineer Yearbook (Des Moines, IA)

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Technical and vocational as well as academic make Tech on plus side Tech is really a technical, vocational, academic high school. Academic courses add the HIGH to Tech ' s name. Each student takes the courses needed lor a high school diploma and those that are required for higher education in college. About 30 per cent of l ech students go to college and the percentage of those who finish is higher than most of the other high schools. The vocational skills learned in the core areas are enriched with knowl- edge of English, social studies, and math. Many courses such as psychology and law enforcement are offered exclusively at lech. The academic courses are a vital part of the high ideals of Des Moines lech. Jobs of the future require mathematics The math department of l ech has the same program of work as any high school in Des Moines The courses that are offered are algebra, geome- try, college algebra, and trigonometry. There are faster moving classes of each and an applied math class specially designed for shop students. Mr. Richard (Mark, head of the department, believes math is going to be required for all jobs in the future society. Lyle Smithson T and I coordinator The co-op program at Tech is unique. In a student ' s senior year, he may be placed on a job in place of his core area training time. He receives credit for this job and is graded by his employer with the aid of the co-ordinator. Mr. Lyle Smith- son, pictured above, is responsible lor the trades and industries core areas. Coordinators for the other areas are pictured with their specific held. The co-op program where the student works, gets his academic requirements, too, makes Tech the plus side of life school that it is. Richard Clark William Kacena Otis Crozier Gordon Stainbrook Mr. Clark looks astounded at some answers given.

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Head Custodian, Bruce Tyler, and his assistant, Tom Mil- ler, plan the day ' s work. Now comes the dirty work. Custodians clean Tech; cafeteria staff feeds students and staff Two important departments at Des Moines Tech are the custodial staff and the cafeteria staff. Without these tWO, I r h with its five floors of space, around 1,600 students and 150 stafl mem- bers could not f unction day to day. The cafeteria staff feeds the school and they do it in an hour and a half. 1 his means planning not counting the administration offices. The stall goes sometimes un-thanked lor their work but then work is appreciated l students and faculty alike. The caf eteria staff f eeds the school and they do it in an hour and a hall. This means planning and quick work and lots of dirty dishes and pans to clean up afterwards. . .and another meal the next day. A word of appreciation to them, too. Mabel Bell, cafeteria manager, looks over the day ' s menu. The cafeteria staff eats... but after the students have been fed.

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Language arts fills important need in Tech education Language Arts at Tech is a vital department in preparation for the working world. English courses are offered to all grade levels, and there are numer- ous c hances foi special study. Dramatics, speech, and debate are offered for interested students and are of ten helpf ul in many core areas. For the student who wants to study a foreign language, French is provided. Tech language arts classes cover the same ma- terial offered in all Des Moines Public Schools. In addition some emphasis is placed on the practical side f English, and how it applies to the training areas. The tenth grade Fnglish course involves a semes- ter of speech and a semester of world literature. Juniors read and study American literature, and many juniors are involved in Projects Fnglish. This course, which tries to make English enjoyable as well as educational, included the regular classroom situation. Also, troin time to time all ot the Projects English classes met as a group to hear speakers and to see films. As Seniors, students had an option to take a course in English literature. Panel discussion and explanations are vocal at times. 1 8