Gas City High School - Epoch Yearbook (Gas City, IN)

Page 56 text:

o---- THE EPOCH,192T----1--o MUSIC Music is one of the most valuable subjects in the school curriculum, and the influence of music in the lives of both children and adults is more powerful than that of almost any other educational activity. Music affects human beings favorably both in their intellectual and emotional lives. Music has come to be more and more commonly regarded as an indis- pensable subject and a larger place is being accorded it. Music, as offered by a High School fab exerts a definite beneficial effect upon the physical, mental and spiritual life of the student, tbl pro- vides an excellent type of intellectual training, fcl is of high value as a socializing force, fdl a worthy use of leisure time, fel indirectly introduces music into the home. The home needs music to express its social life, as music needs the home to supply an opportunity for its effective use. One of the most noticeable shortcomings of our American social life has been our inability to engage in a satisfactory song-singing at social or other gatherings. Doubtless the chief reason for this deficiency is that few of us know the words of our songs. It has been our aim to meet this need. Constant companionship with good music tends to develop character. Shakespeare's statement: The appetite increases by what it feeds upon, is nowhere truer than in the musical world. Courses in music offered to our High School students this year are: fab Music Appreciation, in which the student studies artists of today, opera and oratorio as vocal forms, and classification of voices. The de- partment has a splendid library of Victrola records that have aided greatly in appreciation work. fbi Orchestra. Orchestra is offered only two days each week, but We are looking forward to having it daily again. Riley says, Sing as you will, O singers all, who sing because you want to sing.

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U---4?THE EPOCH,1927-l---o DOMESTIC SCIENCE All High Schools must provide at least one full year's work in Home Economics for the girls. Home Economics instruction should be organized and conducted so as to accomplish the following results: Q15 It should give to our young people a more intelligent appreciation for the important and fundamental occupation ot' home making. Q25 It should prepare them for etlicient and economic work in the home. ' Four courses in Home Economics are given at the p1'esent time in the Gas City High School. One semester of foodsis given in the Freshman year. The aim of the foods course is to give the girl a practical knowledge of food in relation to her healthg experience in selection and preparation of foods and practice in planning, preparing and serving meals. One semester of clothing is also given in the Freshman year. The question arises in this course, Why study textiles ? Textiles should be studied because a large part of the income is spent for textiles. The pur- pose of most clothing courses is to teach the girl how to buy more wisely. This includes: CD How to judge qualityg C25 how to choose wisely for beauty and utility, and Q35 how to care for articles after purchase. A course in Dressmaking is offered for those girls who have com- pleted their first year of sewing. This course gives them more practical experience in constructing clothing and in the choice of clothing. A very interesting course in related art has been given this year. The great objective in this course is to develop a desire and an ability to apply the art principle in solving new problems, either individual, home or of the community. A course in Hygiene and Public Health will be given next year. Some course of this kind, adapted to special needs of students, should indeed form an essential and required part of every system of education.

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ol----THE EPOCH,1927-1- o MANUAL TRAINING Only a few short years ago the boys and girls received practical train- ing for home duties under the guidance of father and mother. Boys and girls in this way became fitted to care for their own home. The present- day home does not offer such training, and the school is attempting to give courses that will train for home-making. Manual training is one of these courses, and it is a required course for all boys in the seventh. eighth, and first year of high school. The course is made as practical as possible. Boys in the seventh and eighth grades no not make many projectsg he1'e they are taught the fundamentals of wood working. Boys in these grades are taught the names of common tools, also they are taught their parts and uses. The boys are permitted to make such projects as key rack, tie rack, broom holder, cutting board. book rack. By making such projects they are required to put to use the knowledge gained concerning the parts and uses of tools. The high school class takes up advanced work and should be allowed to work on machinery. The machinery should consist of a planer, jointer, rip and cut-off saws, band saw, and lathe. Although at present our shop is not equipped with such machinery. it is hoped by next season that we will have this equipment. In the manual training classes, boys not only learn to make minor repairs around the home but also to make useful articles as tables. pedestals. medicine cabinets, book cases, etc.