Mabel Dean Bacon Vocational High School - Torch Yearbook (New York, NY)

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' :Jr-,ll anew-,z-'nur' - 1-y-fe that seems to be the signal tor everyone in the family to give you competition. Father goes to sleep, but father snores. Mother begins to sing while your older sister tunes in on her favorite band, which by the Way, is a noisy one. Your youngest sister decides to chastise her baby doll by spanking it and giving it a good loud scolding. This isn't all, though. Inspiration about what to Write will not come until you finally decide to write an essay on Some thoughts about homework. I have given this topic a great deal of consideration and I have come to the conclusion that there is only one thing to do when the teacher utters the words, Take out your assignment books! -lust think how good the finished piece of Work makes you feel. NANCY SIGNORINI I CAN'T KEEP MY MIND ON THE WORDS A Nickel to My Name -After paying senior dues Blues in the Night -The night before Regents Call it a Dream -Passing Regents u Day Dreaming -During Trade Ethics Everything I Love -Music With Mrs, Peabody I'm Thrilled -The thought ot the prom This ls No Laughing Matter -A comment on your program card Why Don't We Do This More Often -Senior dance All That Meat and No Potatoes -Not in our lunchroom u I'll Never Forget --Our director, Mr. Spector All Through the Night --Studying Do I Worry -About passing a test Saml You Made the Pants Too Long -In case of an air raid drill This Love of Mine -Good old Manhattan High Somebody Nobody Loves -Hitler You Made Me Love You -Mrs. Peskin The Devil Sat Down and Cried -Teacher took her program card Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing in a Hurry -You can tell Busy Little Busy Bodies -Whol Why the seniors ot course ANNA GUASTELLA A

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TAKE OUT YOUR ASSIGNMENT BOOKS! matter what language that sentence all of us. Before it is spoken, there there is a feeling of curiosity about is given, there is a worried feeling throughout the classroom. I know that this is true because I have experienced all of these emotions since the day before yesterday, when my English teacher spoke those hated words, and this essay is proof of what homework really is. Take out your assignment books! No is spoken in, it has the same effect on is a feeling of anxiety. After it is spoken, what is to come. When the assignment in X22 9 8 A K Y 1 U N' -T UW 41 .1 QT . . ff aim T 3 l E x QJHTTET ,y l 6 . ,Z - C-'WT IQ' if-' ff' ' lyk - F- xyigil, VFQAT X QTQ, 'W The minute the teacher speaks that sentence, a feeling of dread hangs over me like a sword. That feeling of anxiety is caused by homework. My hopes that we will not get an assignment are not usually realized. The feeling of curiosity is almost as great as the feeling of anxiety. The reason for this is that both usually have the same ending, a bad one. When you are Worried about whether or not you are going to get an assignment you usually get it, and when your curiosity is aroused by that hated sentence, it is usually satisfied in an unsatisfactory way, like getting an essay to write. The feelings of anxiety and curiosity are nothing compared to the feeling of actually settling down to the homework. All students will understand exactly what I mean, because they usually go about doing it in the same way. You keep putting off doing your homework until a better moment-a moment which is usually the last moment. When you sit down to do your homework,

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FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DESK just what, in your opinion, is a teacher? Now, I am sure that quite a number of people will define this term simply as an instructor. Well, I disagree with them because I believe a teacher is more of a builder than an instructor. It is certainly not very difficult to make a student remember a few lines of poetry, but it is quite another job to build the fundamentals in that student, to make her interested in her work. To be such a builder, you have to possess partic- ular qualities which few teachers acquire. A permanent place in my memory belongs to those teachers who have these assets. One of the most important qualities is naturalness. A student does not want a horn-rimmed teacher who, through her looks and voice, tries to frighten the spirit out of the classy neither does she want to see one of those ultra-modern glamour girls sitting in front of the room attempting to captivate the student's attention through her rather superficial and perishable charms. A pupil likes a teacher who gives herself as she is without any pretenses, being broad- minded within certain limits, determined without being stubborn, and patient to the very point where even patience is not effective any more. Those are but a few virtues necessary for a successful teacher. Another essential one is an extensive knowledge of a particular subject and all the subjects related to it. This is necessary because in discussions the speakers do not always stick to the same subject and the teacher should never be at a loss for information. But the most important feature of teaching is the use of psychology, which is the study of the mind, its activities and reactions. This is of primary import- ance, as the teacher must know what causes a student to give a Wrong answer. Adjustments will have to be made, as not every child is ready and willing to learn. The teacher should try to make lessons to such a child, not a penalty, but a privilege, bringing out the good points to attract the student's interest. Praise should not be Withheld if a child shows effort. Human nature always wishes to be complimented, and encouragement from the teacher will inspire the student to render her best work. Thus the practice of the principles of psychology influences chi1dren's willingness to learn. Looking back upon what I have written, it is quite difficult to imagine the existence of many such teachers. Those I have met have left an indelible impression upon my mind. May they long continue to inspire those hungry for knowledge! MARION FLEISCHER