Montebello High School - Golden Key Yearbook (Montebello, CA)

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HOME ECONOMICS is the science of household management with economy. This science is taught in rather detailed form in the home economics classes. Here food is studied for its value. quality. combinations and amount of vitamins. The personal application of this training is brought out carefully when each girl must plan, prepare, and serve a meal to a small group of classmates. These meals in- clude breakfast, luncheon, and dinner. The class then discusses all phases of the meal, offering helpful hints, corrections. and suggestions. The girls, although nervous as brides preparing their first meal, gain very valuable experience. The class also helps at banquets and school dinners, another excellent point to learn. The sewing classes are also taught to study economy, While cutting, litting and making clothes. the correct style and neatness in dressmaking are always kept In mind. Some girls design their own clothes and draft their own patterns. many of them making tailored suits and coats. All this work is displayed on exhibit night. These classes include household science and home art and design, laboratory courses in which are studied chemical properties and tests for foods. the identification of textiles by various tests, and methods of caring for textiles. Household science is allowed as a substitute for chemistry or advanced biology for graduation credit. The study of home economics is of great value to the giris later on in life, as it teaches them how to buy and to know real quality from sham. They learn to know the best cuts of meat and the most tasty ways to prepare them. They are taught to prepare not only the most expensive cuts of meat but also the cheaper ones and to can and preserve fruits and vegetables. SCIENCE includes classes in general science, biology, physics, and chemistry. The general science classes are made up largely of freshmen who are required to take the subject. This study touches lightly on every branch of general science and paves the way for more detailed study later on. The experiments are performed by the teacher, while the students take notes and watch results. This is found to be much the wiser policy, as all experiments are made correctly, saving time and material and avoiding accidents. Biology is another subject required for college preparatory students. It covers plant and animal life in the first year. but in the second year higher forms of life are given detailed consideration. ln the second year class the pupils dissect animals for the purpose of learning by actual observation the structure of the higher forms. Each biology student is required to develop two projects. It is preferred that one be of animal life and the other plant life, so that the students will receive a more general knowledge of their course. The study of chemistry may be used as a substitute for biology. as a requirement for graduation. The advanced science courses offered are chemistry and physics, chemistry being a graduation requirement unless credit has already been earned in advanced biology. Physics classes are limited largely to those with a genuine interest in this ad- vanced science. Classes are usually small, but the work is generally of superior quality. It is mostly a class of experimental work to see how and what can be put to- gether for the best results. The students themselves do most of these experiments. Pa ge S ixte e n

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ff 1 c . E P RTM E N T5 ,,. FINE ARTS is a department that plays a prominent part in making the history of Montebello High. ln this department we find music and art, two principal subjects in which stu- dents find enjoyment and pleasure as well as practical knowledge. ln the art classes students with artistic ability find an opportunity to express themselves in a variety of ways. Beginners in art are taught the principles of good craftsmanship, the value and blending of colors, and the designing of posters. Meanwhile, the advanced classes de- vote their attention to the 'AGolden Key, the three jungle murals in the cafeteria, and to various leather projects and pyrography- -the burning of designs in wood The advanced students also enjoy making school posters which are exhibited in the local Montebello stores, preceding the performance which the posters advertise. In the music department we have to our credit three orchestras, the advanced orchestra, which appears at many high school assemblies and school plays, the be- ginners' orchestra, and the newest additions to the musical organization, a jazz or- chestra, which plays at some of the high school dances. This year a band was organized. It takes a prominent part in all rallies and some- times plays at special programs. Many freshmen appear in this group. In the vocal group there are the boys' junior and senior glee clubs and the girls junior and senior glee clubs, their greatest achievement of the year being the oper- etta, ln Old Vienna, presented at the matinee and two evening performances. The girls freshman chorus also takes part in the school activities. MANUAL ARTS is the department in which the boys take pride. Wood shop is a subject every boy in school is interested in, and, as a result, these classes are always filled to capacity. The freshman boys are kept busy making small articles, such as toys, footstools, end tables, and other simple furniture. Each year the results from this department prove more interesting than before. In this year's exhibit was furniture of a decidedly modern style. The advanced classes find themselves quite handy in the repairing of cars, and also making boats and sleds. Machine shop plays an important part in the high school curriculum. The ob- jective of the course is a very practical one as it enables the boys to find themselves and their place in life. Again, practice rather than theory, is the keynote. Repairing and painting cars, designing machinery, and constructing engineers' transits are some of the assign- ments worked out in machine shop. Different from machine and shop work, but equally important is mechanical draw- ing, in which the boys draw blue prints of homes, buildings, and machines. Accuracy and neatness are two prime requisites in this course of study. Lettering also has a definite place here. Page Fifteen

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COMMERCE has become an important department in the school. It deals with the fundamentals of business procedure, with some actual practice. There are special classes in typing, shorthand, and bookkeeping where students are fitted for this special type of work. ln shorthand the students also study each other and present helpful criticism. Each pupil receives his list of criticisms kindly because no name is signed and the comments are made in all fairness. Since a fine personality is a leading factor in becoming a good business man or woman, each student strives to correct his faults. Each student who is taking second year shorthand and third year typing auto- matically becomes a secretary to some teacher, taking dictation and writing letters. ln this way they obtain practice in applying the principles studied in class. Students who take second year shorthand also become members of the Pen Pushers club, which is the smallest club in school. junior business training and business principles classes acquaint students with gen- eral principles of business such as budgeting, buying, and advertising. Students in the advanced classes develop projects in building and furnishing houses, arranging win- dow displays and acting as buyer for a department in a large store. Another help to the commercial students is the work in the school offices. This teaches them routine, filing, and special duties. This assistance by the commerce students also relieves the teachers and office force of much extra or routine work. MATHEMATICS classes are made up largely of college preparatory students and those who have special ability in the subject, because this subject is not a required one for graduation from high school. Two years of algebra are offered, but few care to take the subject farther, possi- bly because they feel there would be no future need for it. There are also classes in plane and solid geometry and trigonometry, although these are not all required for college entrance. These subjects are studied more for their essential need to those who intend to do work in engineering and advanced science. Geometrical calculations are also valuable to students of drafting. SOCIAL SClENCE covers the study of languages, history and English, these being taken by the majority of the students. Spanish is a popular language, with three years of the subject offered. Although Latin is less popular, it has its place in the curriculum, with two years of work offered. Three years of English are required for graduation, but there are four years of this subject open to the students. ln this course students are taught the love of good literature, the correct use of the language, and are given an introduction to authors of the past and present. Strong students may substitute one year of journalism. Second year students are required to have one semester of oral expression. They drill on voice control and informal speaking. This subject is necessary, as it not only aids the recitations in other classrooms but is highly essential all through life, in busi- ness or general conversation. Every student is required to take two years of history. The freshmen take world history: juniors and seniors must take United States history and civics along with modern history and social problems. Page Seventeen