Fairmont West High School - Dragon Yearbook (Kettering, OH)

Page 28 text:

A pet hamster is being examined by biology students Martha Edwards, Mr. Dave Puddington, Carol Engelman, and Carolyn Clark during an outdoor biology discussion. Enqrnssed Science Students Widened Interests 'Tm from Missouri, you have to show me! This is the theme of the Fairmont science department. Teachers contend that time spent in laboratory study is the best way to teach science. With three complete biology labs, three complete chemistry labs, and three complete physics labs, students enrolled in a science course spend a high percentage of their time in actual laboratory practice. In biology the student begins his study with field trips to view plants in their native habitat. He studies the growing habits of plants under varied conditions and finds for himself what part gravity, sun, and Water have to do with plants. His year is climaxed when he dissects a pregnant cat. The student in chemistry, starting from the use of the metric system, will advance in scientific technique to the point where he is able to identify unknown compounds. Nearly every student is successful in this identification, as this is the climax of a year of serious study. Fairmont sent a number of students to the science fair at Miami University where the success of the science department of Fairmont was proved. Sixty percent of the entries received superior ratings and forty percent received excellent ratings. Preparing for an experiment are chemistry students Wanda Hensley, Ray Kelly, Bob Baird, and Kay Burke, as Mr. Victor Showalter looks on.

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Linqnists Learned tn Understand Uther Penples Classes in French, German, Spanish, Latin, and Russian language enabled students to better under- stand other peoples. The purpose of foreign language is to provide training to all students so that they may be able to speak it one day, in the hopes of visiting the country and practicing what they have learned. Latin students constructed maps of the Roman Em- pire and its expeditions, wore togas, and examined miniature models of Roman soldiers' weapons. These activities added interest to the study of the language. French students read extensively in French and con- versed Cin class? in French. Tests, letters, and other class papers were written in French. Spanish students practiced speaking, understanding, reading, and writing Spanish. A study of the Spanish and Latin American histories and civiliza- tions was made. Pupils enrolled in German had daily drill and practice in oral expression. Studying simple German texts en- abled students to build broader vocabularies and to develop more fluent speech. Russian students met on ten Saturdays for three-hour sessions. Mastery of the first lessons and standard phrases was topped with the learning of a Russian song. Studying a poster about Spain are Susan Berger and Ron Brown, who are wishing that they were there now. In a typical view of a foreign language class, Miss Mary Belle Warren's French II class is in a reading circle prac- ticing oral French.

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M ll 5 Ann Wilder, George Maharg, Dave Loomis, and Sue Youngen are experimenting with a law of phySiCS. Tom Gragg and Roger Branson are preparing for the countdown to send a rocket to places unknown. In Mr. J. L. Baker's Science II class, Frank Jarrett and Bob Rees are measuring the reduced air pressure with a baro- meter bell jar.