Franklin Central High School - Liberanni Yearbook (Franklin, NY)

Page 91 text:

CICIDMMEUQCI HM. The subjects taught in the Commercial Department at the present time are those which must be taken by a student who desires to earn a commercial diploma. They are: Bookkeeping I, Bookkeeping II, Business Law, Economics, Introduction to Business, Typewriting, Shorthand II,and Business Arithmetic. These subjects give the student a foundation with which he may enter the modern business world. The Commercial Depart- ment does not claim to nturn out' finished bookkeepers and stenographers, but to give practical and diversified knowledge of the common occurrences and terms of business with special emphasis on vocational subjects. It was planned to drop Shorthand from the curriculumg however, because of the demand among the students for this subject,it has been reconsidered. If present tentative plans are put into effect,Shorthand will continue to be a part of the commercial course. Com ercial subjects, particularly typewriting, are helps in school. It is possible for the students to publish a school paper which is typed and then mimeographed. Typing forms the basis of this paper because it would be too expensive to have one printed and almost impossible to publish a paper by using hand cut stencils. Typewriting students are usually in demand by school paper editors, not to mention teachers at test time. Most educators, business,and professional men agree that typewriting is an asset to all persons in whatever field they plan to work. It is useful to the college student, doctor, lawyer, engineer, salesman, teacher and others, who while they do not earn their living by doing stenography or typing, find it a most economical, efficient, and convenient help in their chosen work. It is one of the subjects recommemd ed for everyone in high school, regardless of what course he is taking. Bookkeeping is a useful subject for the future farmer or housewife. This subject gives a working knowledge of budgets and methods for keeping books to show profits or losses, assets and liabilitiesg on the chicken farm, dairy herd, fruit farm, 'gas station,' grocery store, tea room, and others. A school bank is operated successfully by members of the Bookkeeping II class under the supervision of Miss Madeline Pickenpack. This serves the twofold purpose of providing a convenient place for the deposit of funds from various school organizations and individual students,and giving them at the same time banking experience. All of the commercial subjects are taught by Miss Pickenpack with the exception of Introduction to Business and Business Arith etic. These subjects are taught by Miss Kemp and Mr. Haughey because the commercial teacher has all periods filled.

Page 93 text:

IENQE1 MEET English instruction includes work in composition, literature, and speech. Under the division of composition there is a great variety of work. Original short stories and poems are something new this year in this field. The students have enjoyed writing because it was their first real chance to let their imaginations run wild! The results were entertaining and worth while. Essays, editorials, and newspaper articles have also been written. Closely connected with the study of writing and speaking are the units on vocabulary building, library lessons, and practice in parliamentary procedure. The seniors have a right to feel proud of themselves, for they had the highest scores of any of the classes on Inglis Vocabulary Tests, their average score reaching the norm. In oral work there have been speeches for special occasions, speeches of introduction, and personal interviews used in applying for a position. This division is probably the one most dreaded by high school English students. However, nNobody is learning to gesture or declaim, but rather to talk naturally and usefully.' Not cratory, but the ability to adapt students to every speech situation in life, is the aim of all oral work. The study of literature consists of the reading and discussion of novels, short stories, essays, plays, and poetry. Students have devoted class periods to this work, as well as time outside the classroom. Many supplementary books from the school library are read following the study of definite literary types. This department is now trying to make English more useful and appealing to students. Probably in future years students will find English even more practical. Less emphasis is being placed on the study of grammar and more on the formation of habits of correct usage. The greatest incentive to improve his language habits comes when the pupil realizes that he will be able to express himself more clearly and more acceptably to others. This year pupils have been able to measure their own progress through individual charts showing the frequency of composition errors in usage. Drill for the elimination of common errors has resulted in a gradual decrease shown on the charts. English I pupils made an interesting survey of common errors in speech heard in the school corridors as well as in the classrooms. The entire high school course in English is based on the normal speech, reading, and writing activities of young people.