Jefferson High School - Acorn Yearbook (Roanoke, VA)

Page 20 text:

Homework, Themes .. . Many courses are offered at Jefferson—courses for college- bound students, for professional workers and for homemakers training us to take our places in daily life, in Roanoke and in America. Not everyone can take all—business, vocational, academic and general courses—but Jefferson offers whatever subjects are needed by each person. The 1957 Jeffite doesn’t realize how lucky he is, compared with a student in the 1890’s. Now certain subjects in the basic fields are required for graduation. To make up the remaining 16 credits, the Jeffite may take electives of his own choosing. This was not the case in the early days of Roanoke High School. In 1894, for example, all courses taught were required for graduation. These included four years of Latin through Virgil, three years of German, two years of French, four years each of History, English and Mathematics, and both Physics and Chemistry. Thus an Academic or college preparatory schedule was the only one available for the high school student. If a pupil could not measure up to these prescribed requirements or if he felt that the curriculum offered did not prepare him for earning a livelihood, his only alternative was to drop out of high school. Because educators have realized that the public schools have an obligation to all youth—not just to the college- bound group—they have arranged, through the years, an ever-widening curriculum. We are very grateful for this understanding and provision for our needs. First a Com- mercial Department was added; in 1909, the first small library. In subsequent years we have been offered oppor- tunity for study in other Vocational fields such as Welding, Auto Mechanics, Electricity, Graphic Arts, Woodworking and Metal Craft, Homemaking, Distributive Education, where students combine school work with active down-town experience, receiving both school credits and salary, Physical Education, in which we learn not only calesthenics but or- ganized sports and folk dancing, and receive training in rules of health and first aid. In addition, we now have opportunity to take lessons in Art and Music, in instrumental, choral or appreciation classes. We sincerely feel that our participa- tion in the many aspects of the modern high school curriculum make us more aware of our opportunities and more cognizant of our responsibilities as young adults.

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... Lending a Helping Hand. The GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT serves Jefferson’s students. The mem- bers of the department are always willing to advise us in selecting a college or a career, and to furnish information re- garding scholarships and job oppor- tunities. They are available for conference to discuss the student’s schedule and plan our future work in high school. On request tests are ad- ministered to discover a student’s natural ability and the work for which he is best suited. Everything possible is done to assure that the student will be satisfied in the college or career he has chosen. Mrs. Field, Dean of girls, and Mr. Bishop, Dean of boys, are in charge of the attendance offices. They keep records of each student’s absences during the year. Another of their duties is dis- ciplining those who do not abide by the school rules. Mrs. Field has a helper in her office each period of the day. This girl is in charge of all the hall monitors that period. All in all, the Guidance Department serves a very important function at Jefferson. Top Left—Mr. Bishop confers with Joan Smith and Tommy Munson Top Right—Joyce Kraige discusses her college plans with Miss Fisher Middle Right—Mrs. Field instructs her office helpers in their duties. From left to right, they are Ginger Abbott, Nellrena Jewell, Nancy Bourne, Sue Lunsford, and Joy Mit- chell Bottom Right—Mr. White confers with the Persinger twins, James and Frances, about their schedules

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.. + Group Activities In these pages, 12-18, we present to you pictures that illustrate the work of students in our school. (Page 12, upper left.) In the LIBRARY J. Baggett and G. Eliott look up publication sources in The Reader's Guide, an important aid to all students doing research. At Jefferson we have a choice of FRENCH, LATIN, or SPANISH. The study of a foreign language promotes straight thinking and draws us closer to our world friends. It gives us new ways of expressing our feelings. The next picture shows Madame Fallwell explaining verb endings to her third year French students. Jefferson is one of the few high schools to offer four years of Latin, which we feel is the basis for all languages and an essential in translation of modern romance languages. Lower left, Miss Johnson explains a translation to her Caesar class. Three big releated fields are BIOLOGY, PHYSICS and CHEMISTRY. PHYSICS is the study of heat, light, sound, elec- tricity and mechanics, understanding techniques of experiments and nature of proof, always trying to prove a theory or to work problems. To illustrate, Mr. Harker shows the mechanics of an angle of refraction to L. P. Roberts, B. White, J. Walker, P. Hammond and S. Heslep. CHEMISTRY is the study of the composition of matter. Our long hours of study to prove an idea right are often accompanied by horrible odors, ghastly colors and the fear that something has gone wrong. Using a special ‘‘code”’ unfamiliar to non-Chem students, P. McVeigh, N. Havens, J. Akers and P. Drott are working on an interesting experiment. These three sciences em- phasize to us the value of knowing and understanding our enviornment. They make us appreciate the great world of, as yet unexplored, science, of which we ALG TeVenIsO, a part: Compasses, pencils and numbers are important tools of all MATH classes. Here we apply what we learn to our daily lives and to the possibilities of our future. 5. Angle in the center right photo explains to his class the construction of his problem. The study of ENGLISH gives each Jeffite a better appreciation of the world literature as well as a knowl- edge of grammar usage and speech. S. Lunsford, D. Labson and D. Altizer examine what they fondly hope is a model of Macbeth’s fortress on Dun- sinane Hill.