Durham High School - Messenger Yearbook (Durham, NC)

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DEPARTMENT MWC all are blind until we see That in the human plan, Nothing is Worth the making, That does not make the man. MIN TIIE sistvtie lines of Edwin Markhamf' said Miss Herr, Hthere is a fundamental truth about education. It is a challenge to those who direct the training of youth to build to that endg and to the members of the department of English it has become a creedf, YVith this viewpoint in mind, the members of the English department have provided for girls and boys in Durham High School a course of study that does not have the acquisition of or- ganized knowledge as its only aim. It is rather a program of worth-while activities in which students normally participate, so guided that the language and literature used, will help them to do better tomorrow the same things they do today, and make life for them a rich and ennobling experience. Composition, which the teachers regard as a tool subject, is taught with equal stress on hav- ing something to say, having a good reason for saying it, and having the technical equipment for saying it effectively. Environment, real or imaginary experiences of everyday life, reading, and travel are sources for developing individual- istic expression. Yes, grammar still holds an important place in the English curriculum throughout the six I u years of high school instruction, how- ever, only what has been proved es- sential to correct self-expression is chosen. Essentials are presented in connection with the study of language errors, through such concrete teaching pupils learn to correct their own mis- takes. Literature as a basis for enjoyment, stimulation, and reflection on human life and character consists of the study of a few great books and a wise se- lection of contemporary literature in class, supplemented by parallel read- ing of books which pupils choose with a definite purpose. men 26

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V 1 4 A Mus. H. W. RICHARDSON Dean of Girl: i MR. R. E. FREEMAN l Dean of Boys WALK rN'ro the main lobby of the office and at a glance make a survey of the scene. Be- hold! on the left Scylla fPrincipal's ofhcej and on the right Charybdis fDeans' ofhcej. Like Ulysses of old you are destined to become acquainted with both. On this visit meet the deans. Whether your interview is pleasant or painful depends entirely upon the pur- pose of the visit. On the whole, Mr. Freeman and Mrs. Richardson are pleasant, sympa- thetic advisers, yet positive and matter-of-fact in their dealings with erring students. Mrs. Richardson and Mr. Freeman act as our counsellors, having charge of disciplinary methods and deciding upon the validity of absences and tardies. In their oliice may be found a large set of files which contain detailed records of each pupil that has attended Durham High in the past five years. There are two sets of these records, one permanent and one temporary. On each individual's card may be found the following items: attend- ance, absences, tardies, excuses, honors, awards, activities, attitude, parent, background, and any other information pertaining to the student which may be desired. All of which substantiates what We should have known all along-those advisers certainly do know a lot about a person! PAGE 25

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DF ENGLISH Because reading is so indispensable to success nithe vocauonsti hfe,basniskiHsin each type are stressed. Since it is so well known that the inteHigent use of the hbrary B essenthd in naodl ern life, courses in library instruction are oFfered bytheldwadantnulthe Enghshtawhem. The department now otTers two electives to diose sttulents xvhtmliave talent for creative alnl- ity aknig journahsnc and draniaue hnes TTun diese ctiurses luive scdtl dieniselves xvell is seen in the demand for and results obtained from the work. 'fo stnnidate groxvth in lnerary achieven1ent thatis deMrable,lQnghsh teachersccnuluctextnv curdcidar acnviues at die lhighsh held. livery teacher at the xvhcde departnient is adviser for one or more of these. In our own Durham High Miss Wyoline Hanson and R. F.. Freeman are advisers for the Missssmzmt staff: H. T. Gibson and Miss Herr for the Hz'-Rocket staff: R. C. Walser for the Mummers' Dramatic Club: Miss Lelia Hampton for the Cornelia Spencer Lit- erary Society and recitation contest: Miss lielle Ilannunnp the Southgate Laterary Soek1y,gnid Bibs Iierg the Page Iaterary Socnny. This versatility of the teachers may be due to then'extenMve acadennc uuining. 'fhen'record is as follows: Miss Herr: l3.S., Columbia Uni- versity: A.M., Columbia University: Graduate VVork, Lhnverhty of Pennsylvanhn B465 Tian- son: fXJ5, Cleorgia State CkmHege for XNU1n1en: A.M., George Peabody College for 'Teachersgflnuhune VVork,IJuke and Vanderbilt Universities. Mr. R. ll. Freeman: AJS., Furman University: A.M., Duke University. Miss Lelia Hampton: AJS., W. C. U. N. C.g fX.h4., llniversity tif Titntli Clarolniaz Graduate NVork, Duke University. Mr. Harvey T. Gibson: A.l3., Furman University: A.M., Duke University. Miss Belle Hampton: A.l5., W. C. U. TJ.CI. h4r.XNHdser:IDavidson Ckdlegeg A.B., A.M., University of North Caro- lina: Cambridge University flings- landj: Duke University: School of TDranaa, llniversity of Plorth Clarolina. PAGE 27 lla I.. HA xi 1-'rox FRI-ii-:xi xx