Easthampton High School - Echo Yearbook (Easthampton, MA)

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SCIENCE IN OUR SCHOOL Our high school offers two common subjects in science for the upper class- men. The Junior subject is Physics, while the Senion subject is Chemistry. The interest in these two subjects is due to the fact that, besides reading from the textbooks, the student docs a number of experiments in the laboratory during the course of the year. The students pair up for the year and do them under the supervision of Mr. Cleary, who merely looks on and gives a helping hand to those who encounter difficulties. For Physics, the laboratory is not as well equipped as it is for Chemistry. Expensive apparatus is sometimes needed for experiments in Physics, and since the school cannot afford a great deal of expensive material, ingenious inventions have resulted. There is enough material for every student to do about twenty simple experiments as a group. That is, for each of these simplevexperiments, there is enough apparatus so that all the members of the class may do the same experiment at the same time. Many of the remaining experiments must be done by each using the same apparatus in turn. This sometimes proves to be tedious work, and extra laboratory sessions must be held. W ' ' I As mentioned before, we are better equipped for Chemistry. Although more students usually take Chemistry than Physics, fortunately, the necessary ap- paratus is not as expensive and there is enough for everyone. When slightly dangerous experiments are done, all the action is carried on underneath a hood and the work is conducted by Mr. Cleary, personally, 'sometimes aided by one of the boys. Practically all of the experiments, however, are harmless reactions, and all that is needed is a little care. A ' Students who graduate from the local high school and enters college report that our science course is a good one. Hampered as he is by lack of necessary apparatus, Mr. Cleary really does a fine job in giving the students an excellent start for college work. In class sessions, he wisely does not give long lectures but lets the students themselves do most of the talking, thus making them study slightly more and giving them a better chance to remember what they have studied. ALFRED BRIERE '34 REPAIRS ON THE CENTER SCHOOL BUILDING In November 1933, repairs were started in the Center Grammar School. The work was under the supervision of the Civil Works Administration. Formerly there were eight rooms in the building, while at the present there are twelve. The middle partitions between the rooms on both floors were re- moved. Two partitions were than erected making the extra number of rooms. Fire doors have also been constructed in both halls which adds to the safety of the building. During this work, the Freshmen attended classes M the High School build- ing. Classes started at 1:30 p. m. and ended at 4:30 p. m. By this change, classes were also removed from the portable building, all of them now being held in the main building. Eleven

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We were fortunate for the production of our annual senior play in having as director Mr. Howell K, Thayer, principal of the High School. Mr. Thayer had to sacrifice a great deal of time and labor to round the members of the cast into shape. The seniors are extremely grateful to Mr. Thayer and express sincere thanks for his cooperation with our efforts. It is realized that few are the prin- cipals of any of the high schools who would help out the seniors in their greatest undertaking of the year. In co-ordination with Mr. Thayer's work was that of Miss Alice Alvord, who aided a great deal and offered many wise suggestions to make our play a success. Under the able guidance of Miss Grace White, who was our class advisor for three short years, we were finally able to accomplish our purpose. Miss White stood by us, we might say, through thick and thin, and encouraged us when it was darkest. She took an active part in all of our undertakings and labored to make of them all a success. Again, to Mr. Lewis, Miss Dower, Mr. Thayer, Miss Alvord, Miss White, and all those who helped to make our trip a success, we can say but this-Thank You. ALFRED BRIERE '34 CALL FOR CANDIDATES! Easthampton High School for many years has finished on the right side of the ledger in every sport activity it has participated in. Under the excellent tutelage of Coach Rolly Reed, we have managed to hold our own with any school in Western Massachusetts-in soccer, basketball and baseball. Yet, despite Easthampton High School's splendid showing, the fact that her teams have been consistent winners is not all that should be considered. Only ten or fifteen boys out of the two hundred odd enrolled really benefit from the three major sports. Why? The reason is this: At the beginning of every campaign, rumors are circulated throughout the school that someone has already cinched his position on one of the varsity teams. The .fact that such a thing is impossible never seems to occur to the lower class boys. They merely take it for granted that the rumor is the truth, consider themselves out of luck, and make no effort to give the other fellow a run for his money. He not only misses the opportunity of earning for himself the much coveted and highly cherished E but also loses out on the practice and physical building-up thatioutdoor sports and active competition provide. Nobody has his position cinched until the opening kick-off, toss, or pitch! Coach Reed plays no favorites. It is easy to realize that a player with superior ability will help the school's and coach's reputation, and it is seldom that a team will play with all its real energy, pep, and spirit when it is aware that one of its good' players,'deserving of a position beside them, is out of the game because of favoritism. Easthampton High gives to each man what he himself earns. Every boy, no mattefwhat his age or ability, should come out to the field or gym when the call for candidates is sounded, turn a deaf ear on false rumors, and pitch in forthe good of the team. WALTER EARUS '34 Ten

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AN APPRECIATION There is in E. H. S. a faculty member who has been the guiding star of many successful students, and who indeed is most worthy of commendation. Many are the pupils who have passed through the rules of declensions under her supervision. Many are those who have camped with Caesar, debated with Cicero and wandered with Aeneas-all in Room 5. Herself a fine student, Mrs. Lovell tries to give her pupils the keen enjoyment in their studies that she herself experiences. Latin, with its complex syntax, teaches one to utilize all his thinking power. It forms a tremendous background for English,-in fact, most all of the modern languages. This is accomplished not only by vocabulary building but is found in the rules of grammar which are virtually the same in all languages. The drill that one goes through in obtaining a working knowledge of Latin grammar so impresses itself upon the student, that it is bound to enrich his English grammar. But probably the strongest argument for the study of Latin is its cultural aspect. In whatever field one works, he is bound to encounter this ancient language or its effects. For those who choose a business career, the chance of meeting it is possibly the most remote. But even here are found the results of a good Latin foundation. Argument is a prime factor in business. One cannot win a point without the ability to put it across. His chances of doing this are greatly increased if he has had the stiff training in Latin fundamentals which govern spoken English. ' All science' uses Latin continually in the name of plant and animal life and minerals. Astronomers designate the stars by names recognized only by the classical student. A study of Latin, as well as a knowledge of mythology gained successfully only in conjunction with a classic language, is vital in the work of writers, authors, artists, theologians, etc. By doing away with Latin in our schools, we are placing a tremendous re- sponsibility on the English teacher. It is from him that a student must gain the foundation formerly acquired by Latin. In other words, the teacher of English must also be a teacher of Latin fundamentals. Enough digression. Mrs. Lovell has given help to students not only in Latin but also in English and History, two subjects recently added to her curriculum. But her heart is with the Classics. Though Mrs. Lovell is not an alumna of E. H. S., her interest in the welfare of the school is supreme, and she is very proud of all our successful alumni. Her knowledge of the classics is extensive, moreover, she is very well acquainted with literature, mathematics, astronomy, and music. Indeed, she can talk most intelligently on any subject whatever. Truly she is a woman of culture. Twelve