Mount Vernon High School - Surveyor Yearbook (Alexandria, VA)

Page 30 text:

Courses Parallel The Inevitable Variations In Science Department—Mrs Anna M. Harder. Mr Charles L Coffman, Mr Harold G. Swain, Mr John R. Sawyer, Mr Paul Maskalenko, Mr Eugene W. Skinner. Mr. William P Bryant. Science Biology teachers warn potential violators. MR. WILLIAM P. BRYANT PSSC Physics Trigonometry-Functions B.S., Johns Hopkins University. MRS. VIRGINIA L. CAREY Health-Physical Education Earth Science B.S., Middle Tennessee State University Junior Varsity Softball Coach. MR. CHARLES L. COFFMAN Advanced Biology II BSCS Biology I B.S., A.Y.I., M.A., West Virginia University Science Club Sponsor. MR. DAVID S. GIVENS CHEM-Study B.S., Lynchburg College. MRS. ANNA M. HARDER Earth Science General Science B.S., Immaculata College N.S.F., American University and University of Virginia. MR. PAUL MASKALENKO CHEM-Study B.S., East Carolina University M.A.. University of North Carolina. MR. JOHN R. SAWYER Earth Science B.S., Wake Forest University M S., University of North Carolina. MR. EUGENE W. SKINNER BSCS Biology B.S., Montgomery Jr. College, Vir¬ ginia Union University Graduate Work, American Uni¬ versity, Hampton Institute, How¬ ard University, Virginia State College, University of Virginia Science Club Sponsor Intramurals Coach. MR. HAROLD G. SWAIN BSCS Biology B.S., Alabama Teachers College M.S., Florida State University Science Club Sponsor Bible Club Sponsor. MR. FREDERICK H. POWELL Science Department Chairman BSCS Biology B.S., Atlantic Christian College Graduate Work, University of Virginia.

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Students Debate The Meaning Of Democracy Mr. Match requires students to subscribe to Time Magazine. We claim that we live in a democracy where freedom, individualism, and equality of all men prevail. We claim that democratic government is the best form of govern¬ ment known to man. However, when our beliefs are at¬ tacked by communists and other antidemocrats, we provide a vague and ineffective defense. The Social Studies Department challenges the student to accept his responsibility of living in a free and demo¬ cratic society. By providing the courses of United States History, United States Government, World Ge¬ ography, the World History, the student can under¬ stand and appreciate his American heritage and con¬ trast it with the heritages of other countries. This year, the department expanded its facilities. New books were provided; Economics and Sociology was added to the curriculum, and an Advanced Leadership Course in American History and American Literature was conducted. Mr. Kerlin illustrates the daily routine of the students to their parents during Back to School Night. 27

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Mr. Frederick H Powell. Science Department Chairman Changes, revisions, and improvements are essential in the field of science. To parallel these inevitable changes in scientific devel¬ opment, the Science Department has had to supplement traditional courses with new trends in instruction. Earth Science has been replaced by ESCP; Biology, by BSCS; Chem¬ istry, by CHEM; and Physics by PSSC. These courses emphasize observation and experimentation in such exercises as The Dichotomous Key of Identification of In¬ sects”, Reaction Between Ions in Aqueous Solutions , and Inertia and Gravitational Mass”. No longer is the student forced to accept what he reads and what he is told as unquestionable and immutable fact. He is taught to observe, to challenge, and to com¬ municate to others what he sees, what he hears, what he smells, what he touches, and what he tastes. Only then can he present his individual concepts of the world through his observations in earth, biological, chemical, and physical sciences. 1 ‘“T j. r r 1 Mr. Givens discovers flubber formula . Taking precautions against leakage. Mr. Coffman insu¬ lates an aquarium. 29