Freeport High School - Voyageur Yearbook (Freeport, NY)

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19 2 7 19 2 7 THE YEA R BOOK ideal laboratories for both physics and chemistry and a lecture-recitation room having raised seats, for the students, together with a large demonstration table, have greatly increased the interest in science. The pleasant conditions under which the pupils work and the added facities, making experimental work ENGLISH IV. CLASS worth while, has brought about conditions that will demand more classes in the near future. English IV. is taught these days in a manner very different from that of the teaching several years ago. , ,, The group in the picture is studying Hamlet and, instead of merely reading it act it out. This method enables the pupils to feel the emotions that enter into the different parts. The work they are doing thereby takes on a new significance and they are better able to understand the author’s meaning. Interest is aroused in the work for both pupils and teacher and many are the laughs that are produced by the class comic, for there is always at least one in every class. The present seniors are very fortunate in having the chance to study under such advantageous conditions as a bright, well lighted room and an agreeable method of study. ..... ,. . . The drawing room in our new school, with its individual, adjustable drawing desks is decidedly different from the one in the old building, where one had to work at long tables. There, if the light was not quite right, one had to make the best of it. while now the desk can be changed at will to suit the individual. Here a pupil may learn for the first time that he has a talent which may change his entire outlook on life. Even though he may never become famous, he will at least be brought in contact with and taught to appreciate the beauties of nature in line and color. drawing room

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1 927 THE YEAR BOOK 19 2 7 This building was expected to take care of at least five years’ growth, but the better conditions, the added facilities and the addition to the curriculum of those subjects which are more suitable to the pupils needs have brought about a desire on the part of the pupils to remain longer in school. Consequently in the near future there will probably be another readjustment, another step forward. The commercial work was made a part of the course of study early in the organization of the high school, but as the classes were small and the work not considered as important as some of the other subjects, it was carried on for the most part in rather cramped quarters until the opening of the new high school. At this time, three full sized classrooms, separated by glass partitions, were alot-ted to the commercial department. The typewriting room which is shown here is equipped with Underwood and L. C. Smith machines. This room is in constant use and at any time during the day,the clicking of typewriters may be heard. Besides this, shorthand, commercial arithmetic, commercial law, bookkeeping, and business English make up a complete commercial course, so that a student completing this course is as well prepared for business as though he attended a business school. Until 1906 science was taught without much regard to experimental work but a physics laboratory was now equipped in the east end of the old High School. Here all the science classes were taught and a little later a small, poorly lighted and ventilated room in the basement, was fitted up for a chemistry laboratory. With these conditions it is not to be wondered that the interest in science was at a very low ebb. The opening of the present suite of science rooms, consisting of TYPEWRITING ROOM

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1 9 2 7 THE YEAR BOOK 1927 The recognition of the need for manual training came early in the growth of Freeport High School. It was fairly well equipped from the beginning, although the quarters were much too crowded and there was no finishing room. Very little was done, however, in practical woodworking until 1921, at which time, a syste-manual training room matic course in shop- work was adopted. The project carried on by the grades were made simple, both in operation and detail, increasing in difficulty to the advanced course in high school work. In this latter course, the boys were permitted to select their own project with the advice of the instructor. This usually was the construction of some piece of furniture. Even at this time, exhibits of the finished pieces were held each year in the shop. In the new building there came a decided change in the grade of work as well as the amount that could be accomplished. A finishing room, free from dust, made it possible to produce work that brought exclamations of suprise from those who viewed it. Plenty of storage space and a large, well lighted workroom made it possible to have a much greater amount of work accomplished and, seeing the possibilities of better work, the boys are showing greater interest and enthusiasm. The exhibits in wood-working have now become so large that it is necessary to utilize the entire floor space of the gymnasium to give the public a chance to see the products to advantage. In September, 1926, a sheet metal and electrical shop was equipped and added to the manual training department. making it possible now for a boy to get practical knowledge of metal work, soldering and electrical wiring. At the same rime the desirability of manual training work was considered, it was MANUAL TRAINING EXHIBIT