McKinley High School - President Yearbook (Buffalo, NY)

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SCIENCE It is impossible to pursue success- fully any Trade taught at McKinley without a knowledge of basic scien- tific principles. The most practical operations in a trade have usually a sound abstract Theory behind them. Such knowledge makes not only for a more efficient worker but for a safer one as well. But just as most Americans elsewhere, McKinley sci- ence Teachers and students are a- ware of The larger implication of scientific Training in our modern world. For The Third year a physics course has been offered to a group of senior students. ln all science courses physics texts are used to pro- vide a theoretical background for The applied science related to The various Trades. Such knowledge should prove useful not only to Those boys entering Trades but also to Those going into military service. MATHEMATICS Mathematics more Than The other related subiects has an immediate use in a Trade. Most courses require several years of This subject with its special relation tothe particular Trade learned. Fundamentals are not neglected, but mathematics is dem- onstrated to have a particular bear- ing on The work being done in The shops. Cost estimates, material com- putation, calculations necessary be- fore engaging in work are all taught in these courses. All students ap- preciate how necessary a sound mathematical grounding is to what- ever trades they have chosen as their specialities. DRAWING Before a tradesman makes some- thing or follows a procedure, he must visualize what he is trying to do. The easiest way to do this is to have a plan. Most plans involve drawings. The skilled craftsman must be able both to make and to understand drawings. The drawing is an aid not merely in the accomp- lishment of the protect but in nec- essary calculations of size, materials and costs. Moreover, a drawing or sketch will help in explaining iobs to others and in enabling Them to

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assembled copper pipe in numerous offsets and learned the fundamen- tals of welding. The whole course offers opportunities to boys who bring to it interest and effort. SHEET METAL In recent years the uses of sheet metal in homes and industries have multiplied. The results has been a heavy demand for sheet metal workers to fill the positions created by the increased use of this con- struction material. The course at Mc- Kinley is aimed at helping fill this demand by training students famil- iar with work related to ventilating, air-conditioning, gravity and forced air heating, and direct collecting systems. The sheet metal worker today musthave abasiclcnowledgeof weld- ing, brazing, riveting and triangula tion. The use of plastics is a new de- velopment in sheet metal work. The plastic material is purchased in sheets as is the metal and the pro- cedures used in production are id- entical with those used in sheet metal. Among the useful obiects made in the Sheet Metal Shop this year were filmstrip cabinets for the Vis- ual Aids Department, a twenty foot awning, iron railings and a projec- tion stand for the school.

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see the finished product. Not sur- prisingly all McKinley graduates have had considerable experience in the making and reading of draw- ings. ENGLISH One studies English that he may be able to express his own ideas clearly and correctly and to under- stand the ideas others communicate to us. A knowledge of our common language is a tool demanded of a worker in any industry, in any trade. Such knowledge is essential for the ordinary purposes of everyday liv- ing, traffic signs are a sufficient ex- ample of this. A lack of clarity and correctness in language is the cause of endless difficulties both in the shop and at home. But the use of one's national tongue is a pleasure as well. Books, newspapers, movies, radio and television would be mean- ingless otherwise. The greater one's verbal ability the more one can ob- tain from them. And who would want to be deprived of those com- mon experiences with friends that are so dependent on our ability to share ideas with them. The study of English by a high school boy leads to both profit and pleasure. CITIZENSHIP Freshmen entering McKinley study a course entitled Economic World which combines both geo- graphy and economics, in either the Sophomore or Junior year students study World History, Senior re- ceivea year's instruction in American History. Future workers and citizens of America will need to know the major crises, conflicts and problems