Huron High School - Tiger Yearbook (Huron, SD)

Page 16 text:

4 Huron High school Auditorium seats 999 and Is used for concerts and com- munity events as well as school activities. VThe 1948 debate team were, sitting; Marlen van- Drew, James zurbrlgen, James Montgomery, Judy Blake, Montgomery, Judv Blake, Helen Bagby; stan- ding: Mary odegard, Dorothy Davies, Dennle Johnson, Joyce Buchanan, Mr. Delbert c. Reuter, coach, Nancv Burger, Bob Stark, and Bud Krause

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Opening of a new high school permits. . . Additions 'I'o Curriculum The opening of the new high school on Illinois Avenue in 1914 permitted additions to the curriculum - an agricultural department, machine shop, domestic science, manual training and science labs. Other additions were journalism, business education and a well-equipped library. Athletic department activity increased and a school nurse was add- ed to the staff. In 1915 student government replaced the ruIe-of-iron philosophy prevalent nation- wide Huron High School was the first in South Dakota to have a student association, an ac- tive group that sponsored cheum courses and a series of other entertainments. During world war I the Huron system followed many other school districts in discontmuing the teaching of German and replacmg It with French. Latin was also of- fered. Currently the curriculum includes four years of Spanish and four years of German. In the late 1920's a special class, called the opportunity room, was provided in the new 1efferson School for children unable to learn In the regular classroom. From this beginning the program expanded to its present facility at Buphanan School. This includes a Director of SpeCIaI Education, who supervises classes for the men'taIIv-retarded at elementary middle and senior high school levels with p'upils in- tegrated Into regular classes individually to the extent of their ability. Other areas include a pre-school class for children with special needs,ch1ldren with physical handicaps alter- native classes at both middle and high s'chools for children with academic potential but emo. tionalvproblems, which make them unable to learn In regular classes and an Opportunity school for students with severe behavior pro- blems. An innovative program has been avallable recently for pregnant girls who wish to continue their education but not in the regular elassroom atmosphere. 5 ear v as 1940 a supervisor wa 1 coordinate the curriculum amongS $3903; elementary schools, Lincoln, McKinley Wilson anq Jeffeirsonuand to work with printipals in mamtalnmg hlgh instructional standards As the number of elementary schools increased and additions were made to the junior and 111 senior high school offerings, a curriculum coordinator for kindergarten through the twelfth grade replaced the elementary cur- riculum position. changes in teaching methods dominated the educational picture nationally during the 1960's: new math, new English, and process science courses were developed by university professors for the public school in an effort to meet the competition precipitated by Sputnik in 1959. V Dana Gracek, a junior in 1982, practlces her words- per-minute in an office practice class taught by Mrs. Kavleen Long. It was one of the many buslness courses offered at HHS.

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Separation Of junior and senior students . . . Pendulum Swings Too Far Modular or flexible schedullng was'in- ItIated In Huron JunIor and Senior High Schools in the 1967-68 school year With the separation ofjunior and senior students. Asso often thapitcmngfthfhen- dumswungrtomfarx; efforts In the 19705 were toward integrating the best of the new efforts with the traditional methods of former vears. . In the late 1960's, the Huron School Dlstrict grew to more than 400 square miles, whlch necessitated an extensive bus program. In addltlon, two Hutterlte colony schools were added to the local school district. other fac- tors whlch added to the workload were a cIty-wlde hot lunch brogram and a number of federally funded programs. over the vears there were also changes 1 pupil promotion from grade to grade: every child had to fit the currIculum prescribed for the grade level. concern was widely eXPFEISSF!d that allowances should be made for indiwgual differences so that nearly all chlldren mlght remain In school profItably through hlgh school. Attention to individual differences Vielded manv beneflts, but as tlme went on the prac- tice of soclal promotion was carried to excess. Attention to indIvIdual dIfferences and the need to keep students gainfully occupied In SChOOl precipitated the additlon of vocatIonaI courses to the conventlonal, college- preparatorv offerings. Classes in agriculture were expanded; health occupations classes. building trades, and auto mechanics were other new courses offered In the Vocatlonal School Bulldlng. . With the change in promotion practices came a change in reporting pupil progress to parents. In addition to the traditional report card. there was a need for oral commynlca- tion between teacher and parents If ad- justments for individual pupil differences were to be taken Into consideration in the classroom. Huron was a leader In the Mldwest in initiating parentXteacher conferences In 16 the elementary schools as early as 1940. Reporting through conferences was extended through the junior high school in 1977-78 and currently in the middle school and high school. Since the 1950's adult education has been offered In a series of evening classes for a modest fee, the offerings dependent upon the number of applicants. This Adult Educa- tion Program should not be confused with Adult Basic Education, Started in 1968, for in- terested citizens deficient in one or more basic skills below the eighth grade level. v Sophomore Allison Bates applies her skllls of communication in a 1967 speech class. ;