Homer L Ferguson High School - Mariner Yearbook (Newport News, VA)

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by new techniques and projects. Miss Joann Fivel English, World Lit- erature Advisor: Senior Ushers, Music Club Mrs. Lucy M. Gay English Mrs. Russwyn O. Hall English Advisor: HELM Mrs. Smith ' s fourth period English stu- Mrs. Gay discusses grammar rules and writing techniques with a junior class, dents study a S.R.A. Composition lesson. In Ferguson English classes great emphasis is put on developing writing skills. 1 Mrs. Sue Jones English Mr. James E. Pirkle Drama, Speech Advisor: Thespians, Forensic Club Miss Pamela B. Roland Mrs. Carol L. Thur- English man English Johnny Speegle coaches Mickey Conway on his vocabulary words. Vocabulary study is a regular part of the studies of all English stu- dents. 19

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Mrs. Elizabeth C. Smith Department Chairman English, Advanced Composition Advisor: National Honor Society English courses were enriched Pam Alley and Cathy Lawrence, seniors in one of Mrs. Smith ' s English classes, pre- pare a bulletin board depicting three witches in Act I of Shakespeare ' s MacBETH. Seeking to instill in their students an appreciation of great literature and to teach them the skills necessary for speaking, read- ing, and writing effectively, English teachers used several new devices this year. Among these were the Science Research Associates Contemporary Composition program used with the overhead projector, the Humanities Series films, and various film strips and records related to literary studies. The students themselves also tried new projects in their classes. A senior class made a tape on the literary, political, and musical background of a century of English history, while eighth graders staged one act plays written by classmates. Freshmen made maps and travel folders on the journeys of Odysseus, a sophomore class produced THE KING AND I, and juniors made a study of love and hate in THE HUMAN COMEDY. Drama students produced one act plays, while speech students studied phonetics. Mr. Pirkle helps drama students Amy Markowitz, Claude Puryear, Patty Henry, and Dana Martin rehearse a scene from a one act play. Mrs. Margaret F.Baab Miss Nicola H. Beverage Mrs. Cary F. Burt English, Advanced Com- English English position Advisor: WINDJAMMER, Quill and Scroll Mrs. Frances T. Casson Mrs. Mary W. Cofer English English 18

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A quest for good citizenship was Miss Sylvia R. Olney Department Chairman Government, Sociology Advisor: S.C.A. Micheal Knight argues a political point in his economics class. Mrs. Yvonne Adams U. S. Government Mr. Gilbert Crippen World Geography Advisor: Hi-Y Miss Carol Oglesby World Geography Lester Smith adjusts the projector for a government film on how a bill is passed. To develop an appreciation of our heri- tage, an understanding of why we study histo- ry, a knowledge of the world in which we live, and a quest for good citizenship is the aim of the history department. U. S. history is a required course for all eighth graders, while either world history or geography must be taken during the freshman and sophomore years. Juniors are required to take U. S. history, two classes this year being involved in a specialized study con- nected with Colonial Williamsburg. For sen- iors, U. S. government is required with a special unit on Communism. Sociology, in- volving the study of man and society, is also offered to those who are interested. New equipment in the history department this year included an overhead projector and an opaque projector. Additional equipment was also under order for next year. Mr. Carmines posts a booklist for his social studies students on the bulletin board.