Leominster High School - Magnet Yearbook (Leominster, MA)

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In the senior year, The Crisis by Churchill and Novel and Story by Sedgwich are read. During these three years, students are taught and trained for future businesses by giving special reports on vocations, writing business letters, and learning more about interviews. CO-OPERATIVE ENGLISH In September, the general English classes organized a group known as the Oral English Club. These pupils appointed a president who would assign one student each month to speak on a certain topic. Grammar as a rule is very boring to the average high school student; however, this year the students have taken a greater amount of interest in this particular phase of English with the excellent monthly drills in sentence structure, development of the para- graph, and parts of speech. These classes also enjoyed reading such books as Abe Lincoln Grows Up, Por- traits, and Within our Gates. The General English classes of ‘49 have a accomplished a great amount of fine work within the year, and we, the graduating class, are proud of them. MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT Students of the various mathematics classes have definitely fulfilled the aims of the mathematics department this year. The outstanding purposes of the study and practice of such mathematical subjects as algebra, plane geometry, solid geometry, and trigonometry, were to prepare the students adequately for college with a richer and broader understanding of the relation of one branch of mathematics to all other branches. Much emphasis was placed on the dependence of other subjects on mathe- matics. The students of algebra were taught the ability to make, use, and solve formulas and to calculate the results in situations which do not readily lend themselves to solution by arithmetic. In plane geometry classes pupils gained the knowledge and understanding of plane figures and applied this in the study of solid geometry, the study and usage of three dimensional figures. The trigonometry students learned to measure surfaces by means of triangles — a subject often called triangulation and closely allied to surveying. Solid geometry projects were constructed in the class to expose the pupils to situations wherein they had to meet and overcome difficulties, bound to arise, with a gradual increase of ingenuity and self-confidence. SCIENCE DEPARTMENT The science division of L.H.S. has carried on its activities with admirable progress. The college physics and chemistry groups have been preparing themselves for the College Board Examinations with con- scientiousness and confidence. The practical chemistry, practical phys- ics, General Science, and Biology classes have been working throughout the year to better prepare themselves for the problems of life which face them after graduation. LANGUAGES LATIN CLASS A good foundation in Latin gives a cultural background to the student as well as helping him to understand modern languages. The first year is especially interesting because the student is introduced to the Roman family and its customs. In the second year, Cicero's speeches teach the individual a great deal about citizenship as well as giving the origins of familiar stories and a great many of our well-known quotations. During the third year a thorough study of Virgil is given. FRENCH CLASS To prepare the pupils adequately for entrance to college or scientific schools whose standard are exacting is the aim of the French course at L.H.S. During the three years of French offered, pupils are encouraged to make intelligent use of the daily newspaper, in which they may find frequent references to France; to give a background of French civilization, including consideration of France’s geography, history, and contribution to literature, art, and science; and to realize the debt which our country owes to France. Furthermore, the students of French learn to love France and the French people. 16

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Our Curricula. . . In order to graduate in June of his senior year, a pupil must earn a total of one hundred and twenty scholastic credits during his three years at the high school. These credits are obtainable in any subject if a passing mark is received. Major subjects, such as English, any branch of mathematics, and any of the social studies are worth ten points each. Personal typewriting and guidance together are worth eight points, and type- writing I, II, or II] — five points. From two to four points are given for physical education. Our honor roll is divided into three groups: first, second and third. Three and a half ‘‘A’s’’ are needed for the first honor roll, three and half ‘‘B’s’’ for the second honor roll, and an average of three and a half ‘‘B’s’’ for the third honor roll. An opportunity to attend a leading college after graduation is made possible by the well balanced course of study offered to the students at our high school. The College Course covers every phase of study: science, mathematics, languages, so- cial studies and physical education. The Commercial course prepares the student for such positions as stenographers, typists, or accountants. Such subjects as business English, business essentials, stenog- raphy, and typewriting have helped in this preparation. Besides these studies, students are given choices of a foreign language, a social study, or any branch of science. A third course in our school, the co- operative curriculum, gives the boys and girls a chance to develop their hand skills in our vocational school. This school offers carpentry and machine shop courses for boys and food and clothing courses for girls. During alternate weeks at the high school, the cooperative course pupils may study in almost every course, and also are able to take part in extra-curricular and sports activi- ties. At the end of this course, these students are prepared for specialized work, and have received the necessary amount of training needed to establish themselves in this work. ENGLISH DEPARTMENT COLLEGE ENGLISH The chief aims of the College English Course are to develop in the students the ability to speak and to write correctly and effectively, to read intelligently and to reproduce the thought correctly, and to enjoy the standard literary works of the past and the present. Five-minute speeches, either original or research, are required of every student each year. Research essays form important projects for the junior and senior years. Oral and written book reviews and class discussions on text books acquaint everyone with the various types of books. Recordings of the Shakesperian plays arouse much interest. The reading and the discussion of Galsworthy’s The Forsyte Saga, the reciting and the recording of recitations of poetry, the reading of plays, short stories, and essays, and the listening to original essays, reviews and stories by members of their division are among the high-lights of the senior year. BUSINESS ENGLISH The object of the Business English Course is to. provide each student with an adequate knowledge so that he may express himself clearly and effectively, practice good writing and good speech for practical and social benefits, and develop a taste for good books. Considering the future place of these students in the business world, emphasis is placed on neatness, accuracy, promptness and speed. During the sophomore year, students read such literature as The House of Seven Gables, A Tale of Two Cities, The Ameri- can Scene, and Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. To make the latter more enjoyable and understandable, recordings of Julius Caesar by Orson Wells were played. During the junior year, the students read Shakespeare’s As You Like It, Modern American and British Poetry, and Short Stories.

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For the benefit of these pupils who are not going to college, sufficient material is offered to enable them to speak French comfortably and to translate ordinary French professionally. GERMAN CLASS This year the German classes under- took correspondence with boys and girls of high school age in Germany and surrounding Europe. The letters were written partly in English and partly in German so that the students could help and criticize each other in regard to the languages they were studying. Much of the German II class time was spent in reading German literature, learning songs, and studying the work of German artists. The art and music departments cooperated with the German classes in this. The class read Goethe's Faust and Taylor's translations. When a German opera was presented on Saturday radio programs, the class studied the background of the opera and were encouraged to listen. ITALIAN CLASS The purpose of the Italian Class is to learn to read, write, and speak Italian, and especially to note with pride the contribution made by the Italian people to the develop- ment of our country. The course consists of grammar lessons, reading, cultural dictations and geographical studies. The study of Italian life and the history and artistic accomplishments in the fields of fine art, music, and literature, made by the Italian people are also included in this course. GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT Every pupil is interviewed once a year by a member of the Guidance Staff. On each student's interview card is placed such information as the student's favorite subjects, hobbies, school clubs, sports, test results, vocational plans, choice of educational insti- tution and reason for any maladjustments. Several tests are given to the students to determine their intelligence and mechani- cal abilities. Reading, clerical, and steno- graphical tests are given to those who will do future office work. 17 Career Day, sponsored by the Guidance Department, presented speakers from thirty different occupations to discuss the benefits and disadvantages of their particular lines of business. Important information on such subjects, study habits, art of taking notes, demands of colleges, information about the draft, and a bibliography of books dealing with occupa- tions, is obtainable from the Guidance Staff. All student failures are checked, reasons found for the failures, and help given to determine another subject better fitted to the pupil. Assistance is given in applying for admission to colleges and for scholarships; help is also given to students regarding their preparation for their mid-year exams and to returning veterans. Mr. Fenton has charge of the student placement for jobs. Through interviewing, testing, and fol- lowing-up the students through high school, the Guidance Staff is one of the most enter- prising and helpful departments of Leominster High School. BUSINESS SUBJECTS The Commercial Department includes a variety of subjects essential in the business world. Bookkeeping I and II classes aim to help develop the imagination, vision, and the ability to think and to analyze; to inculcate a sense of responsibility, dependability, and good work habits; and to teach how to keep a set of books in a business organization, whether an individual, partnership, or a corporation. Business Essentials with the application of previously learned mathematics to business problems, with the development of good citizens, through teach- ing the fundamental business practices, as its objective. The importance of legible pen- manship is emphasized in this course. Understanding legal information and con- ducting business dealings intelligently is taught in Business Essentials II. I deals primarily Ability to read and write printed short- hand fluently, to take dictation rapidly, and to transcribe material accurately on the type- writer is developed in the shorthand and stenography courses. Accuracy is stressed at the beginning of these studies, but the student gradually becomes skillful in doing the work rapidly also.