Ferry Hall School - Ferry Tales Yearbook (Lake Forest, IL)

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The Preparatory School GENERAL PLAN OF THE CURRICULUM NJADEMIC work at Fen'y Hall begins with the first year of high school. Girls are eligible for admission to the Preparatory School of Ferry Hall, who have satisfactorily completed eighth grade work, or who transfer to an upper class from an accredited secondary school from which they have received honorable dismissal. The course of study ordinarily includes four units of work a year in academic subjects, and a quarter of a unit is required in physical education. Sixteen units are required for graduation. If at least the last eight of these are obtained at Fen'y Hall, the student receives a diploma. If she obtains only the last four units at the school, she receives an associate certificate. Both are accepted for entrance to certificating colleges and universities, pro- vided that the requirements of the chosen institution have been included in the girl's high school courses and that she has done work that can be recommended. Ferry Hall gives no credit for practical music or for physical training courses taken in other schools. Physical Training is required of every girl every year of her course at Fen'y Hall unless she is excused by a physician, and credit is given for this work. Credit is also given for Music, Art, and Expression at Ferry Hall. Whether a girl is preparing to enter a college or university, or to Hnish her general education with the high school course, her work in high school should be planned, first and foremost, to give her a broad general knowledge of the various fields of human learning. To this end a girl should have some work in each of the departments of English, Foreign language, History, Science and Mathematics. If possible she should have also some work in Music and Art. Then, in order that she may learn methods of thinking in more advanced form, she should have, in at least three departments, courses in sequence. One sequence she will have in English, at least three years of which are required. Others may be gained by taking two or more years of a foreign language, by electing both Algebra and Geometry, by electing Ancient, European and American History in order, or by electing Applied Science followed by Chemistry. A course planned according to these ideas might include a distribution of subjects as follows: 3 or more years of English fincluding Bible, Mythology, and Public Speakingj 2 years of work in each of two Foreign languages, or 3 years of work in one Foreign language 2 or 3 years of History .15.

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Fmsr YEAR 15 periodsj. In this course spe- THE PREPARATORY SCHOOL ifjlfzrilgjrlgdcjiillgiltxs Physical Education frequired each year, The remaining courses chosen to earn the sixteen units required for high school graduation should be elected preferably in the junior and senior years. They should include subjects in which the girl finds an especial interest. For some girls a course in History of Art, Practical Art, Harmony, Music or Dramatics or Business Subjects may meet the need. If a girl has chosen the college or university which she wishes to enter after high school, a course will be mapped out to meet her special needs and the demands of the college or university chosen. But- the general plan outlined above may still be followed. She may plan to take the College Board Tests and then her senior year should be occupied mainly with those subjects in which she is to be examined at the end of the year. DEPARTMENTS OF STUDY and degree of difficulty as the individual develops in understanding and appreciation. ENGL1sH All courses in this department are planned to meet the requirements for entrance to college and to carry out the suggestions of the English committee on the College Entrance Examina- tion Board. Wherever possible informality in class dis- cussion is maintained since the aim in the study of literature is to stimulate an interest in, and appreciation of good books, as well as to develop in the individual the power of dis- crimination and comparison. Composition work is stressed during each year with weekly themes and frequent con- ferences which enable the instructor to point out and discuss with the student her indi- vidual difficulties. Though themes are often based on the student's reading, much oppor- tunity is given for creative writing. Extensive reading is systematically planned and carefully supervised to meet the needs of the student. A minimum of eight books is required each year, the books varying in type cial emphasis is placed upon reading and appreciation of the simpler forms of litera- ture: the short story, familiar essay, narrative poetry, and the simple novel. Composition aims to give the student confidence and ease in writing and through a study of functional grammar, to develop clear and correct expression. sncom: Yr-:An 15 periodsj. This course carries on the work of the first year. Plays, both Shakespearean and modern, as well as novels of recognized merit are used for class study. Composition work is again stressed. 'rrmm YEAR I5 periods 2. In this course a definite attempt is made to give the student, hy ex- tensive reading and a careful study of back- grounds, an understanding of the develop- ment of English literature. Composition work,