Madison Central High School - Tychoberahn Yearbook (Madison, WI)

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r CENTRAL . . . Piaae i 9a emo uUic £ducatio i 114 adison Chntmi l-1ic.it S- inMii h.i made a great deal of progress since die lime, nearly a hundred years ago, when two teachers and a handful of pupils comprised die entire lii ;li school system of the city. But it is not in si r alone that the school has progressed. Tremendous gains have been made in teach ing metitods, in the subjects offered, and hi providing the students with extra activities for the purpose of developing their interests. 'Hie purpose of American education to day is to mould the Itest |io sihle citizens for life in a democracy. In order to do this, a school must offer its pupils good cultural background, a study of society and its problems. locational training, a knowledge of the line arts, ami a variety of outside activities. The word pioneer in the title of this article is not meant to imply that (x-ntral was always the first to introduce new theories of education. But, because school officials in this city have always been ijuick to take advantage of new ideas in education, and because Central was usually far abend of the majority of schools in introducing new educational philosophies, pioneer seems a fitting and a just term to use. It is interesting to thumb through the tiinc-yellowcd records of the schools; and to watch, as you read, the gradual development of our present fine example of democracy in education—Central Senior I ligh School. (continued on page 8) H i Timxiimsisv. a ten toe. entered Central II, row Sprint Crren in Febetury, I't-W .1 lot »f hit aitiri-tin I nth,dee bun, . dr a 01 Mitt, and the Uinew. Trnni, jnd trading are Ait A,•Abie . Hr rained Ait Honor pin and won tie I'H i crimett tktt year, rrrriring 4 grid H alt A 4 4 prue. Hub it dan piopArt nr the irmurt. rt t Id I hr pi am to attend tkr Vmrcretty of ll'i contia, entering either the tchool of tour-nahtin or t Amu,try.

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%emoc icUic Pno-cticeA. . . . Vocational Subjects The school authorities of Madison first answered the call for a more practical education away hack in 1876, when they established a course in bookkeeping for seniors. Two years later, a commercial course was established, consisting of commercial law, commercial arithmetic, and lxx kkeeping. Within a few years, however, vocational education suffered a relapse, and the course was dropped from the curriculum. Not until 1908 was training for specific jobs again introduced, and then it was introduced with a rush. Complete commercial, manual training, and home economics departments were installed in that year. The need for these courses had been recognized for several years, but lack of space necessitated svailing until the present high school building was erected before offering them. Since that time, the vocational departments have been enlarged and constant-ly improved so that the present fine results were obtained. Music and Art Although music and art have some vocational opportunities, they arc not offered primarily for that reason. It was rather because of the feeling that, in order to turn out citi zens of the highest caliber, schools must teach the appreciation of the finer things in life, that these courses were established. Credit for music and art was first given in 1895. although some instruction in singing and drawing had been offered before that time. A chorus, or glee club, as it svas called, was at first the only musical organization. Ap|urcntly the music teacher succeeded in making the world a happier place almost at once, for the principal rc|x rtcd at the end of the first year: We arc particularly proud to notice a great improvement throughout the sch xj| in the Ixiys’ singing. 11k first art class studied the works and methods of famous artists and learned to draw simple figures with charcoal. Mechanical drawing was included in the art course for lx ys for several years. Since those days when charcoal and pencils were the only art tool and the lx ys‘ singing was so bad, the art ami music departments have made great progress. Although it was not established for that purpose, the art department might be classed as a vocational course lx--cause of the number of really fine artists it turns out each year. Orchestra and band arc now part of the musical organization of the school, along with the chorus and clsoir; and all. by dint of the conscientious work on the part of the instructors, have been built up until the school may well jxiint to than with pride. Physical Education Realizing that sound Ixxbcs must accompany strong minds in the citizens of a great nation, and realizing that it was part of the duty of the schools to help build those sound Ixxlics, the educators of Madison instituted a program of physical education into Central early in its history. For many years, this program consisted only of giving healthful exercises for about fifteen minutes (continued on jmge Vf) 181