Leominster High School - Magnet Yearbook (Leominster, MA)

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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.

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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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Typewriting I and II build up the typist's ability from the fundamentals to typing business letters and overcoming personal typing problems. Typewriting II] is more advanced and deals almost entirely with the various phases and fine points of business typing. The typewriting courses are de- signed to stimulate interest, direct effort, and challenge work habits. PUBLIC SPEAKING CLASS One of the most enjoyable classes held at L.H.S. is the Public Speaking class. To develop poise, a pleasant and ade- guate speaking voice, and clear, correct diction are the aims of this course. Choral exercises, individual drill, and daily speeches aid in accomplishing these aims. Often pupils assist other pupils thereby bettering themselves. During the year a play is presented by the class for the assembly and speech contests are held. A speech clinic is also held for those students who have speech defects. BOYS’ GYM CLASSES The cycle for the boys’ gym classes is full of various activities, including touch football, softball, and basketball. During the first part of the school calendar the boys are sent outside to play touch football. The different classes are divided into groups. At the end of the touch football season the leaders of gym classes enter into the Touch Football Tournament. In the semi-finals this year, the Juniors defeated the Seniors, and the Juniors in turn were defeated by the Sophomores. After the winter season is over, weather permitting, the boy's gym classes are allowed to go outside to engage in the inter-class softball contests. This sport is played within the regulations with required equipment available. Near the end of the school year a tournament is conducted between the two teams having the best won-and-lost per- centage. These two teams play a little World Series with the champions having to win 3 of 5 games. Along with these sports, is a full schedule of calisthenics, which includes push-ups, dips on bars, pull-ups, rope climbing, set-ups, Burpee test, standing broad jump, 100 yard dash, 440 yard dash, and the obstacle race. 18 Everybody, in doing the exercise, is trying his utmost to break the records set by pre vious students at L. H. S. Numerous times during the school year, the boys meet in Room B to discuss the various rules of the different games. Each Sophomore gym class receives a first-aid course. The four periods of gym each week are greatly enjoyed by everyone. GIRLS’ GYM CLASSES During balmy weather the seats in room B were occupied by the girls of the physical education classes. They devoted their time to compiling a notebook. This notebook consisted of rules and regulations of such sports as field hockey, soccer, softball, basketball and volleyball. Miss Lavin also gave notes on the construction of the body, good posture habits and first aid. During the winter months this class met twice weekly. Test results became a specified percentage of the girl's physical training marks. When the weather permitted, the girls had gym outside. Captains were chosen and these captains then chose the girls who were to be on their teams. The teams then competed with each other in sports such as softball, field hockey, soccer and volleyball. With the information the girls received in room B they were able to play a better game. During the winter months the girls meet in the gym. Besides playing basketball and volleyball the girls do square dances. When they are not playing basketball or doing square dances the girls are doing exercises. With these fundamentals some athletes should go a long way in the field of sports. DRAWING The main purpose of the mechanical drawing course is to prepare all pupils for any phase of engineering. The pupils this year have completed a very successful course. The aim of the freehand drawing class is to ready all pupils for a career in designing. At Christmas time, a tree and also the windows in rooms 19 and 20 were appropriately decorated by this class. Other projects accomplished by these students included the making of posters for various school activities.