Highland Park High School - Little Giant Yearbook (Highland Park, IL)

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PROGRAM INNOVATIONS Individual focus heart of new science course In an effort to individualize the science curriculum, teachers Ralph Cooksey and James Swanson initiated new classroom techniques in six Modified Physical Science classes this year. Following the normal Physi- cal Science curriculum, students in these classes were encouraged to work at their own speed, and learned the skills of self-pacing. Instead of the standard formal lectures, students listened to supplementary tapes which contained in- formation necessary for the completion of each exper- iment. Mr. Cooksey and Mr. Swanson constructed lis- tening carrels which helped to adapt one science room to the new program, enabling students to study quietly when not working on an experiment. Because class size was limited to twenty, teachers had time to spend with each student. In its second year, the ecology program gave inter- ested students a chance to study their environment through classroom labs and field trips. 25

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During an October field trip, senior Stewart Peterson (below) waits for Mr. Eiscman to point out a bevy of ducks to an ecology class mate at Cook County's Palos Park Forest Preserves. Freshman Maranda Spencer (bottom) tests the thermal heat of liquid in Mod- ified Physical Science. Mr. Swanson (right) reviews the procedure for freshman Andy Cantin's next experiment, which gauges the gas given off by heated sulphur and copper. Freshman Mike Accllo (far right) and his lab partner are careful not to enlarge the burner's flame, which would cause their mixture to overheat. 24

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Hebrew introduced to satisfy popular demand Thanks largely to the prompting of budding ling- uists. Hebrew was offered as a language for the first time this year. Administrators added the beginning- level course to the 1972-73 curriculum after noting student desire for a class in the ancient tongue. As taught by Mr. David Eppstein. a 1968 HPHS grad- uate. the class was typical in many ways to any first year language course. Students had the usual quota of nightly homework assignments, quizzes, and tests. At the same time. Mr. Eppstein worked to add an in- formal dimension to the course. Classes often played games that involved use of vocabulary and grammar. Students determined their own grades for the semes- ter. based on what they felt they had accomplished the first half of the year. Students often viewed movies about Israeli culture, and Mr. Eppstein presented his own slides of the sum- mer he spent in Israel. Hoping to appeal to high school dropouts, the Dis trict 113 Board of Education voted to allow student to take courses offered through the Adult Educatioi program. Although the effort to reach dropouts wa unsuccessful, largely because of an information gap some students did register for evening classes. Every course was opened to young people, but th fencing and karate classes were the only ones to at tract student participation. Mr. Jerome Man's fencing class met every Wednes- day night at Deerfield High School for ten weeks. The twelve duelers” learned about the history of fencing, and tried to master the finer points of the sport. Twenty-five members of the community met Tues- day and Thursday evening to learn the ancient art of Karate. Mr. Lynn Philyaw. course instructor, hoped to instill increased physical discipline and mental aware- ness in those who took the course. PROGRAM INNOVATIONS Translating the picture into Hebrew print, sophomore David Breslow (right) lets the class in on the fact that the man is falling from the sky. Mr. David Eppstein's artistic talents (below) — the parachutist on the board — add a refreshing dimension to his teaching efforts with a first year Hebrew class. 26