Hyde Park High School - Aitchpe Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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Faculty QTUDENTS ' activities in Hyde Park arc supervised and directed by an admin- istrative staff which maintains contact with pupils through means of the teachers. This staff puts forth all its efforts to guide students to a good educa- tion and a sound basis for various careers. The staff is composed of Mr. Loomis, principal: Mr. Smalley. assistant principal; Mr. Williams, dean of boys; Miss White, dean of girls: Mr. Pcnhallow. head of the branch, and the teachers. Daily association between teachers and pupils provides a sympathetic understanding between the two groups. When difficulties arise, they are ironed out by means of this association, and scholastic tranquillity is restored. Freshmen, new in the ways of selecting courses of study are aided by the faculty in choosing the proper course to fit their needs or desires. Language, science, commercial, social science, and art courses display their advantages to the newcomer for his personal choice. These various types of study are connected with corresponding departments, each of which is under the direction of a department chairman. The English department is supervised by Miss Buchanan. In the language department. Miss Jackson leads the Latin section; Miss Johnson, the French: Miss Peede, the Spanish: and Miss Witte, the German section. The mathematics department functions under Miss Shoesmith ' s care: Mr. Hippie holds the posi- tion of chairman in the social science department, while Miss Schurz holds sway in the commercial department. At the head of the music department is Mr. Robinson; in the art department, Mrs. Lewis. Mrs. Perham and Mr. Hasan are the heads of the physical education department. In the three and a half years of required work in the English department, the student learns to read and write correctly, and at the same time, becomes acquainted with the many achievements of English literature. Additional oppor- tunities are given in elective work which include courses in journalism, modern literature, general survey of English literature, and dramatics, all of which are fourth year subjects, excepting journalism. Courses have been planned most attractively for the linguist. He may choose Latin, French, Spanish, or German, and take four years of one, or divide his course, taking not less than two years of any one of them. In the first year, pronunciation and grammar are studied, and as the student advances, he delves into foreign literature. Students desiring to work in technical fields may obtain a firm founda- tion for such in the department of mathematics. Among the subjects taught are algebra, plane geometry, advanced algebra, solid geometry, trigonometry, and college algebra. A year of algebra is required of all pupils in the four year courses. Since most colleges require such, a year of plane geometry is usually taken. [14]

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The science courses open up a wide field of interest for the student. Gen- eral science is required of all freshmen in the four year course. In this year the student makes a limited survey of the entire field of science. If he is interested in botany or zoology, through his activities in the laboratory he becomes acquainted with the living things on earth: through the discussions in class, he learns of their economic importance to man. In physics, the student gains a knowledge of the constitution and properties of matter, mechanics, sound, light, heat, electricity, and magnetism. Composition of matter, and the transforma- tion it undergoes, intrigue the student of chemistry. Astronomy acquaints the student with the composition of the celestial bodies of the universe. Students primarily interested in the social sciences have within their grasp courses in English and United States history, ancient and modern; social studies, economics, civics, and commercial law. The purpose of the department is to fit young men and women for living usefully and happily in their community. In order to accomplish this, the student first secures a knowledge of the past by means of the history courses. Then he is prepared to take part in a lively dis- cussion of present day affairs. The individual who plans to enter the business world after graduation is well trained through courses offered in the commercial department. These include stenography, typing, bookkeeping, clerical practice, filing, calculating, salesmanship, and commercial geography. The music department offers many opportunities. Two semesters of music are required of pupils in the four year courses, although many of them avail themselves of the opportunities in the music circles, which include participation in singing and in the playing of musical instruments. Most advantageous are the activities of the art department to the talented young artist. Although the average student takes but one year of art work, instruction may be taken either in free-hand or mechanical drawing, others may major in art. The purpose, which the teachers in the physical education department strive to realize, is the development of physical vigor, of nerve force, of bodily control, and of skill in athletic endeavor, so that the student may be a partici- pant in many kinds of athletic activities. If a boy prefers military training to athletic training, he may join the R. O. T. C. Woodshop is offered to the boys, while girls may choose sewing, cooking, and household management. The class room affords a practical but limited study of the subject: how- ever, the members of the faculty in sponsoring those organizations so much a part of the life of Hyde Park provides the student the opportunity to broaden his knowledge of the subject in which he is especially interested and, moreover, to gain those social contacts so essential to school life and which the class room does not afford. Hyde Park has many such organizations, each field of learning with its due share of extra-curricular activities. [15]