Erasmus Hall High School - Arch Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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Cosimo V. De Pietto Qffimwfgggfg VVVV Chalrman J ' , .pri ff ' One of the few things capable of making the sonorous voices of our teachers inaudible was the vocal and instru- mental exuberance of the Music Department. Aside from interrupting French tests, mathematics lec- tures, and English poetry readings, the Music Department had other important functions. It was responsible for organ- izing the many music courses offered at Erasmus Hall, and it presented the traditional Christmas and Spring Concerts. In conjunction with the English Department, the various musi- cal groups Worked on several television projects, the result being a combination of narrative and song. Four terms of minor music were required for graduation. The basic fundamentals of music theory and group singing were stressed in these courses to help the student understand and enjoy good music. Many students also climbed the five flights in the Snyder Avenue Wing to take advantage of a variety of electives covering sight singing and the history, theory, and appreciation of music. Erasmus Hall's proudest possessions included the singing clubs and orchestral groups. The members of the Boys Glee Club, Cantata, the Junior Chorus, and the Choral Club were taught to improve the tone and pitch qualities of their voices to provide for better singing. In an innocent-looking base- ment room, our instrumentalists perfected their techniques and prepared for ensemble play. Music at Erasmus Hall was both interesting and informa- tive. It Was enjoyed by its teachers, practicing students, and all those within ear of its harmonies. Mr. Charles Johnson faces the music in a senior music class

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l.N.,..i,. -l Chairman The birds of Brooklyn are a happier lot today, thanks to the noble efforts of the students of the Industrial Arts Department. With plans by Drafting, walls by Woodworking, lighting by Electricity, and plumbing by Metal, the bird houses constructed easily ranked with the most luxurious duplex homes. Work in the four shops had a common purpose: to develop our manual and technical skills and to encourage creative expression through the use of tools and materials. In wood- working we gained valuable experience in carpentry and in It's two against one as Richard Squires and Anthony Torre team up to hit a nail on the head. drawing class. Clarence Martin the use of woodworking equipment. Metal shop taught us how to work iron, steel, and copper and how to construct products of metal. Electrical theory and methods of con- struction and operation of electrical apparatus were inte- grated in electrical shop. Mechanical drawing introduced us to drafting and blueprinting, essential skills for the engineer. Whether for vocational or avocational purposes, those of us who took Industrial Arts courses received valuable prep- aration. We left Erasmus with an excellent understanding of industrial processes and materials. Myron Feldstein designs a better mousetrap in mechanical John McDonough intently knocks a chip off the old block.

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HOME ECONOMICS VVhile the odor of burning biscuits pervading the school might have perplexed an outsider, we at Erasmus could easily trace it to the bustling rooms of the Home Economics Department. It was here that the culinary talents and other homemaking skills of prospective housewives were developed. Home Economics courses covered topics ranging from per- sonality development and etiquette to child care and dollar budgeting. To help the girls practice the performance of household duties, the department set up a Family Living Apartment. In this model home the girls cleaned, laundered, and did other tasks necessary to maintain neatness and clean- liness. Sweeping dirt under the rug was, of course, forbidden. Violators were forced to eat their own cooking for not less than one and not more than two weeks - a just punishment for a dirty crime. Actually, the girls proved to be quite efli- cient housekeepers. Another feature of the Home Economics Department was its well-equipped kitchen. Here students learned to prepare foods for every occasion. As the girls gained in experience, more and more exotic dishes were concocted. Beginners worked on the soft-boiled egg, while the more advanced students tried their hand at the medium and, occasionally, the hard-boiled ones. Seriously, the dishes that were cooked up were both differently delicious and deliciously different. The girls who enrolled in the Home Economics program beneited greatly and were helped on the road to successful lives as wives and mothers. Mrs Marion Alexander cusp' ix hazrman vf' - Hoc U' 6' K Arlene Skupinsky glances from the frying pan to the fire. Susan Dranoif, Susan Cohen, and Dilma Evans prepare a star concoction.