Farrell High School - Reflector Yearbook (Farrell, PA)

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OUR PRINCIPAL NIR. W. R. ANDERSON AB., Grove City College Hlfrl., Uniuvnvity of Pit!.rlnnglJ 16

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OUR CURRICULA Farrell I-Iigh School offers three curricula to ics students: the College preparatory, the general, and the commercial courses, At the beginning of the ninth year pupils select their curricula. The greatest care should be exercised by the pupil and parent in the choice of curricula. Selection should be governed by the pupil's ability, special aptitude and choice of a profession. However, in any course, sixteen units of work is required for graduation, The unit in physical education will be in addition to the sixteen units. Two periods of physical education will be required of each student unless excused on account of athletics or bv a doctor's certihcate, Only students of superior mental ability, preparing for college, ur nurses training school, should take the college preparatory course. It is intended that the students enrolled in this curriculum should be of high scholastic aptitude, and should be able to maintain high standards. Success in this curriculum is indicated by all averages which will rank the student in the upper half of the class. Required studies in this course are: English, 4 units: Social Science, 4 units: Foreign Language, z units: General Science, 1 unit: Physics or Chemistry, i unit: Algebra, i unit: Plane Geometry, i unit: Physical Education, 1 unit, Elective sub- jects are French, Latin, Biology, Mechanical Drawing, Introduction to Business Training, Chemistry, Shorthand, Iournalism, General Bookkeeping, General Typing, Solid Geometry, Trigonomeuy, Algebra II, Physics, Music, Students who do not intend to go to college are recommended to enroll in the general course. It provides a broad, civic, scientific, and cultural training for 11 life of active, in- telligent citizenship. Students who want the best training for life should rake the general course. Its required studies are English, 4 units: Social Science, 4 units: Science, 2. units: Ivlathemarics, 2 units: Physical Education, 1 unit, Its elective subjects are General Science, Latin, French, Biology, Geometry, Commercial Geography, General Bookkeeping, General Typing, Science III, Science IV, Physics, Senior Business Training, Music, Algebra I, II, General Mathematics I, ll, Ill, Mecliaiiical Drawing, Chemistry. The commercial course is a vocational course. It is designed to prepare students for positions as stenographers, typists, hookkecpers, and clerks, Students who desire a high degree of specific training for the business, professional, and industrial world should enroll in this curriculum. Specialization in the commercial course begins in the eleventh year, Required studies of this course are English, 4 units: Social Science, 4 units, Science, I unit: Ikflathematics, i unit: Bookkeeping, 2 units: Shorthand, 2 unim: Typing, t unit: Physical Education, 1 unit, The superior student may take both bookkeeping and shorthand. The electives of this course are Latin, French, Algebra I, General Science, Introduction to Business Training, Business Training, Biology, Mechanical Drawing, Commercial Geography, Com- mercial Law, Senior Business Training, Music, Science III, IV. 15

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THE REVISION OF THE HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULA lt is evident that our secondary school currieula is not adapted to the present day American youth. There was a time when the enrollment was small, and a selective minority remained in school, that the curricula was adapted to thc needs and interests of the pupils who remainecl in school. lncteased enrollment and legislative enactment which will raise the compulsory age for School attendance to 18 in 1939 have added unsolved problems. lt is ohvions that the present program is inadequate to meet the needs of the present increased enrollment and the expected incrtase due to legislative enactment. Secondary education is to be consirlered an experience for all youth I4 to 18 years of age. A common education for all is a new concept. There never has ht-en an occasion in the history of the school when there was a necessity to meet the needs and interests of all the youth. These needs and interests differ for youths who range from superior to very low scholastic aptitude. Obviously to meet the needs of these pupils an innovation will be made in this area, Ive are concerned with giving all pupils the common elements which will fit them for living and will prepare them for good citizenship, The school progrzun should he diversilied so as to meet the needs of dillerent students. ln order to do this, there must he a dilIerenA tiation in the curricula. l-low can we adapt out program to meet the needs of the increastd enrollment? Experience indicates that many puliils need further training in tool snhiects, such as the use of language, spelling, and arithmetic. We can meet this need in English hv sulmstituting a line reading program in place of the emphasis on formal grantmar and the classics. The group enrollment in algehra should he limited and a more practical mathematics pro- vided for consumption. There is a need for advanced courses in science for those students who are following a commercial, vocational, or general course. These courses are for those students who are completing their formal education with graduation from high school. These few specinc instances are cited to illustrate that we can adapt our school program in material and content so as to meet the needs and interests of the youth who plan to continue their secondary education. W. R. Asnrusox 17