Erskine Academy - Pinnacle Yearbook (South China, ME)

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'I 'H la' l'1NNA CLE I .u not invite an expert to speak on these sub- jects and explain to us about his or her experiences in this field. For instance, he might tell us why he chose this particular field, and the goal he placed at the top of the ladder which he determined to reach. Like everyone else he had to start at the bottom of this ladder and climb up to the top, step by step. This is not always easy to do. One should never get discouraged if the climbing becomes rough and a step is missed. Keep treading until you reach that next step-the final step to success. Encouragement to this end would be help- ful. It could be arranged to have interesting speakers for other courses, too. For those who are taking the college course, it could be important to invite a lawyer, doctor, or a teacher to explain his or her profession. Of course we would want to invite a suc- cessful, prosperous farmer or his wife to tell of their duties. All of you Senior girls with those beautiful sparkling rings on your fingers want to be expert housewives, don't you? A successful housewife could give you girls the advice which you need. By having these people come to talk to the student body, help will be given to some of us in solving the problem of deciding what occupation we would like to follow. These speakers would help us to increase our knowledge in a few of the many pro- fessions of the World of Opportunity. Wouldn't any one of these persons make an interesting assembly program? I am in favor of vocational guidance programs to supplement our present policy. Brm'bara Racklei C0-Editor in Chief IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION Is education important ? Perhaps this question sounds silly, however, if you con- sidered the number of boys and girls who do not continue their schooling because of various reasons, you would obtain a large figure. We all know that some quit school because of illness, lack of money, sickness in the family, but as a whole you will find that the largest percent of the young men and women of today quit school because of attractive jobs nearby. Many of the boys who fought in the war to help save our country were taken from their course of study, however some re- turned to school after being discharged. They didn't think they were too old to finish high school. They considered themselves fortunate to have the opportunity to con- tinue their education where they left off. Some even went to college for additional training after completing their high school course. Education is needed in order to make oneself into a well rounded citizen. One should obtain an education in order to equip himself for future needs. In the world of today the highly educated men and women are the ones who will secure the better paying jobsg therefore the peo- ple who are uneducated will be crowded from their occupations and will suffer many hardships. Christine Fowlc Associate Erlitw' TOMORROW ? Oh, what of the tomorrow Which follows each day here? Comes there pleasure, joy or sorrow To us here on this sphere 'I Though we hope, and plan, and scheme And dream of luxuries so rare, Though we wish, and though we dream, These are but castles in the air.

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11, THE PINNACLE COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT A great asset to Erskine Academy is its Commercial Department. Out of 157 stu- dents, 110 are taking a Commercial sub- ject. Have you ever stopped to realize how much it means for a high school student to have a knowledge of Shorthand, Typing, and many other things having to do with office work 'B It means that after gradua- tion a student is prepared and qualified to start a new life in the business world. One may continue his education in a business college or may be lucky enough to find a good job directly after school closes. When a person finds himself in an office where he is more or less on his ownv, his mind goes back to school days when he learned to take dictation, to typ e, to run a mimeograph machine, and to operate a mimeoscope. At Erskine this year we have enlarged our Commercial Department. We now have thirteen typewriters and a new mimeo- graph machine. The typewriters are all in good running condition. In February We bought the new electric mimeograph ma- chine which is far superior to the old one we have had for several years. Erskine is the second high school in Maine to have an electric mimeograph machine. In the Shorthand II Class, certificates are available for a certain number of words written per minute. This encourages a student to strive harder in order to receive these certificates. They are also helpful when you enter the business world as a written assurance of the exact number of words that have been taken by the person who is applying for the job. 1 Bookkeeping is another subject which helps the prospective businessman. With this knowledge, he will not be afraid to go into an office as a bookkeeper when he knows that he has had sufficient training to do the required work. In the Bookkeep- ing I Class, the outstanding student gets a pin for his year's work. The Bookkeeping II Class has a closet in the school building set aside for the sale of candy, pencils, paper, and other school sup- plies. This gives tuem experience in mak- ing change and ordering new merchandise. Under the direction of Miss Hancock, our Commercial teacher, the Bookkeeping students organize and print the school paper which is sold every month. With all this knowledge a student has acquired in high school, he will be able to go on to business college without fear of knowing too little to qualify. If, on the other hand, he secures a job, he will also have sufficient training to go into an office and to do his work without any major prob- lems, thanks to efficient preparation as of- fered at Erskine. Bessie Freeman Co-Editoi' in Chief ASSEMBLY PROGRAMS As I am a Senior and about to leave Ers- kine, I have some constructive criticisms to make about our assembly programs. The situation is that now we have but one as- sembly each month. I feel we should have an assembly every week or at least one every other week. What can a high school student gain by having assembly programs? Knowledge, wisdom, understanding, judgment, and courtesy could all be obtained by having the proper programs. First, let us visit the Commercial De- partment of our school and see what we can find around which to build forty min- utes of entertainment. We have some stu- dents who would like to become skilled in typing, shorthand, and bookkeeping. Why

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16 THE PINNACLE Tomorrow these castles will have fallen, And crumbled at our feet, And our dreams will be forgotten, When we our fates must meet. But, let us hope, and let us plan, And let us not despair, For very real to us, today. Are those castles in the air. Gale Rutledge '49 STUDIES AT ERSKINE There are three courses offered to the students at Erskine, the college course, the commercial. course, and the general course. If anyone is not sure which course to take he should discuss the different courses with the principal. The college course is for those who in- tend to go to college and become doctors, nurses and teachers. The main subjects under the college course are the languages, Latin, French, and English, also the sci- ences, Algebra, Geometry, Chemistry, and Physics. To receive a college diploma, you must take four years of English, two of Latin, two of French, and Algebra, Geo- metry, Chemistry or Physics. The commercial course is for those who want to be stenographers, secretaries, bookkeepers or commercial teachers. For a commercial diploma the required subjects are Junior Business Training, Bookkeep- ing, two years, Typing, two years, and Shorthand, two years. The general course is for those who don't intend to enter any profession. In this course the students may choose any sub- jects from either of the other courses. There are required subjects with all of the courses, such as World History, Ameri- can History, and English. Besides the re- quired subjects in each course the student may also choose one subject each year which particularly interests him such as Civics, Public Speaking, or Problems of Democracy. Civics is mainly about the government and teaches the students a little about their country and how it is run. Public Speak- ing is a good class to join if you are shy in front of other people. After work in this subject you will gain confidence in aj, pear- ing and speaking before a crowd. It gives good training for a person who intends to be a radio announcer or a politician. The different courses are so arranged that the student may prepare for any pro- fession which they intend to follow after leaving Erskine. All of these subjects are easy if you will concentrate on them and study faithfully. Glenna, Cantwell '51 HONWARD ERSKINEN Here's to Erskine A school We all hold dear, Our love for thee Will last from year to year. The clanging of the school-bell, Outside the school-house door, Will make the Seniors realize, Soon, time will be no more, When they'll attend the classes here, As in the days of yore. The memories of high school days, Will be in every mind, Where'ere We go, or what we do, No better will we find. So here's to Erskine, Her majesty and fame, May we always be true To her glorious name. Helen M'u,rplLy '52