Indiana High School - L Indien Yearbook (Indiana, PA)

Page 12 text:

pn, L INIHISHQCHOOL sw How a Modern High School Works 0000-00090000000-09009000000 economic arrangements, and possibly to furnish insights on possible choices of vocations. Finally, the social studies may be expected to contribute much more than in the past to pleasurable lei- sure time activities: in reading, in obser- vations in the community, and in the satisfaction of curiosities about phases of human drama. Such purposes place a large responsi- bility on the social studies and those who offer instruction. The content of these subjects is expanding rapidly and con- tinuously. And youth's perplexities, problems, interests, and euriosities must determine in a large measure the mate- rials to be selected for study. Again, youth may be expected, more than in the past, to raise basic questions about a system of economic arrange- ments when many of their parents are out of work. They may raise further questions wl1en they cannot find jobs upon completion of their school careers. They have a right to expect a11 unbiased discussion of th-ese problems. Society, on the other hand, has the Q-- QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ -Q right to expect that its cultural heritage -its customs and patterns and arrange- ments-shall be made intelligible and in- viting to youth, to the end that present and later adjustments shall be made with a minimum of friction and personal crises. Somewhere between these points of reference, instruction in the social studies must be focused and must operate. Compromise in both materials and their presentation are ever present, because. on the one hand, youth must be served. and, 011 the other, the modern high school cannot shirk its responsibilities as one of societyls most important agencies for social control and social uplift. FOREIGN LANGUAGE Apparently, the schools have yet to determine the relative importance of la11- guages and the proportion of time they deserve. Latin and French, for instance, occupy more school time than Biology, Art, or Home-3Iaking. From the past to the present, the healthiest change in the study of lan- guages is the shift of emphasis from me- chanics to meaning. Originally Latin was studied to learn the thoughts and phrases of the classics. Now nearly 'every teacher of languages places the ability to read a language above every- thing else, and only those details of lan- guage are taught which are necessary to avoid confusion. Liberal rather than literal transations are favored, The em- phasis is upon grasping the foreign meaning rather than upon translating in a mere mechanical form. The change of method in language study reflects the growing concern of the high school with useful, practical results. In the language department. this philos- ophy expresses itself i11 the development among students of tools for the growing political and commercial traffic with for- eign countriesg of an international out- look and philosophy, and of an increased appreciation and understanding of the culture which America has inherited from all races and all lands. SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS Science in the high school has to do with Geography, General Science, Biol- ogy, Chemistry, Physics, and Agriculture. Such subjects have to do with the whole world of nature. In our present highly mechanized society, when our welfare de- pends upon such complex science as medicine, sanitation, transportation, in- dustrial chemistry, agriculture, and man- ufacturing, it is essential that every pros- pective citizen be at home in the pres- ence of such phenomena, Geography and General Science famil- iarize the student with the earth and its people, and manls use of natural laws. In Biology, besides a knowledge of life processes, students learn many practical lessons about their gardens and pets at home. Plants, animals, and people are the three major divisions of this subject. Physics teaches the principles of me- chanics, sound, light, and electricity, Chemistry involves the study of the ele- ments and includes knowledge of fuels, foods, clothing, cleaners, poisons and antidotes, clay products, paints, and fertilizer. Agriculture, as taught in In- diana High School, teaehes the practical business of farming. ltfany boys and Top : Classroom guidance Center to right: A Science demonstra- tion, Editing the Newspaper, A class in Sewing, A class in Ameri- can History Lower Left: An Office Scene Page 8

Page 11 text:

INDIANA HIGH SCHQQL HOW H Modern School orks been modified or changed because of the National Education .Xssociation's recog- nition of the rights and responsibilities of democracy when in 1918 they framed the seven goals every high school should set for every student. These goals are: I. Ileattt1.II. A Command of the lfunda- mental Processes. III. VVorthy Ilome- llcmbership. IV. A Vocation. V. Civic liducation. VI, Ivorthy Ilse of Leisure. VII. Ethical CllHl'ilC't.0l'. Opportunities in Indiana High School ENGLISH The more progressive teachers of lit- erature feel that pupils in general derive the greatest benefit through an extensive and varied program of reading-much of it preferably of the pupil's own choos- ing. Intensive study naturally has a se- cure and valued place, for much of our poetry and prose yield their suhtler es- sence and deeper meaning only to those who are willing to linger alertly over the linesg hut to dissect and formalize the casy and the obvious is a deadening' pro- cess. .tn encouragement of free. adven- turous reading over wide areas will se- cure the healthiest and happiest, results. In selecting' reading' material for high school classes, there is less emphasis than formerly upon the Classics, This change does not mean a loss of friendli- ness toward the older writers: it simply implies that those responsible for the lit- erature curriculum must take the pupil where they find him and seek to arouse an interest that will lead to more stimu- lating and worthy reading. For many groups wise selection will mean many classics: for others choice will more wise- ly fall upon books and periodicals of more modern date and more immediate appeal. In the held ol expression the pupil IS directed and encouraged to speak and write. not only correctly. but also simply and straigllt-forwardly. llere too. teach- ers are coming' to a keener realization of their responsibility for the non-literary boy and girl. linglish is a tool subject: only a small percentage of puplis will ever recognize subtleties and delicacies of style. Factual and practical matters have. accordingly. an important function in Iingllish classesfas they have in life. So the student in his English classes Top: Trigonometry, the Library Bottom: Two views of Physics Class Two views of Chemistry Laboratory Page T spends approximately half his time learn- ing how to use his mother tongue effec- tively. Certainly the more intelligent, high school student appreciates the fact that a just regard for the mechanics of ex- pression. coupled with wisely selected leading. will constantly enlarge his views and make him more conscious of his ow11 emotions and immediate responsibilities. Ile is a sharer in the world's traditions, a citizen of the social polity of the pres- ent, a participant in the spirit of hope for the future. llis ideals are elevatedg he is enabled to see more clearly his place in the midst ofa constant change and a constant perplexity. SOCIAL STUDIES All crises in our national history have 1'esulted in changes in emphasis and in content in the group called the social sciences: history. civies. economics. soci- ology. and combinations of these sub- jects. After live years of the worst de- pression ever experienced in the linited States. large numbers and groups of our population are dissatisfied with some of our economic, social. and polieicat 211'- rangrements. Demands for increased attention to the social studies have followed almost every crisis, and at present demands are coming from youth, adults, and educa- tors. ln more progressive high schools, the social studies are regarded as the most important group for purposes of integ.g'rated study. IVhat are the contributions which so- cial studies may make to the education of youth? Through study and observa- tion, youth may expect the social studies to assist in making the commlmity and the world more intelligible Youth may also expect to gain some appreciation and understanding of how social scien- tists approach the study of the commun- ity and the world: their methods and techniques. the problems they examine and investigate. the findings and conclu- sions they set forth. and the influence and relationship of such results to the world's work and play. The social studies may be 'expected to make youth adjust himself to particular environments and to current social and

Page 13 text:

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL few How a Modern High School Works girls who expect to follow this vocation study crop production, soils, animal hus- bandry, marketing, gardening, horticul- tllI'0. and kindred subjects, Mathematics, the purest science, is not ordinarily taught in its advanced forms in the high school. except possibly, to future engineers, scientists, and teclmi- cians. The theory that mathematics training disciplines the minds, and transfers the skills acquired to other branches of learning is now widely ques- tioned. Today, it is largely a. tool sub- ject, Students who do not expect to use much mathematics in their future work are not encouraged to take more than the elementary branches of this subject. BUSINESS EDUCATION Business education in the modern pro- gressive school means the preparation of youth for socially useful and personally satisfactory livi11g, and, more particular- ly. for entrance into commercial employ- ment with reasonable prospects of suc- ceeding in their work by reason of social intelligence, occupational skills, occupa- tional intelligence. business understand- ing, proper work attitudes. ethical stand- ards, and general supporting education. Exploratory courses are offered to ac- quaint the student with his aptitudes and a number of business vocations where his talents can be most advantag- eously used. Emphasis is no longer upon stenograpihy and bookkeeping to the ex- clusion of other business activities. It is known today that QW of business workers are bookkeepers, and not more than 1061 are stenograpliers. General oftiee work and selling. for in- stance, require many business workers. It is the purpose of the commercial cur- riculum to bring the interested and questioning student and the world of business together. HOMEMAKING The affairs of the household from birth to death are at the core of national wel- fare. Only in recent years has it begun to receive the attention it deserves, In- terested students may receive, in Indiana High School. opportunity to learn about the field of Home Economics. This sub- ject has five major divisions: Family Re- lationships, Family Economics. Child Top: A Library Scene, Industrial Drawing Center: Two Library views Bottom: Boy's Gym, Boy's Shop Faye 9 Care and Training. Food and Nutrition, and Textiles and Clothing. rw l'he goal of this subject is the im- provement of homes and home life. It involves the materials of the home and their management as a basis for the ul- timate purpose of enriching living. That the social and intellectual interests of the family shall be fostered is a major ob- jeetive. INDUSTRIAL ARTS Tests of students. involving much more than simple questions and answers. have taught that there are many types of intelligence, The boy with poor abil- ity to add a column of figures may per- form wonders of carpentry. Another may find it difficult to write a simple grammatical sentence. and still be cap- able of remarkable craftsmanship. Until recent years the schools catered only to one type of intelligence: the type that can read, write, and speak. But the ability of many students lies in their fingers and muscles. Schools formerly labeled such students slow,' and turned them out to shift for them- selves. The modern school, however, recognizes its responsibility to all stu- dents as they prepare to take their places as work'ers and citizens in the commun- ity, Tlms, in addition to general educa- tion, such students a1'e encouraged to ex- plore the trades and to develop manual skills which will make them valuable workers in industry. HEALTH Nloney and work invested i11 the health and physical education of high school students are regarded as the best of possible investments-an investment in the health of young people who are the bulwark of tl1e future. Youthis main job today is to go to school to train for adult responsibilities in a 11ew and chang- ing world. To do his best job in the world, youth will need a body that has life and vital- ity in it. brinnning life, eager to do things and make conquests. This is the job of physical education. which, in In- diana High School, does this work: