Murphy High School - Mohian Yearbook (Mobile, AL)

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MATHEMATICS Take a dash of arithmetic, a pinch of algebra, a slice of geometry, and a taste of trigonometry; putthem altogether and you have the Mathematics Department. Thirteen instructors are required to teach “Little Johnny” the secrets of mathematics. Mr. Brown is temporarily head of the department. Mathematics and English are the two funda- mental studies upon which depend success in all other branches. For college entrance, one year each of algebra and plane geometry are required. These constitute the first two years of Murphy’s Mathematics course. Some colleges required an- other year of algebra so students are advised to take Math 5 also. Courses in elementary arithmetic, solid geometry, and trigonometry round out the department. MUSIC Hark! Do I hear music ringing in my ears? Let’s follow the sound and see what we can find. Ah, there’s Mr. Dahrner vigorously directing his orchestra. Sounds like good music, too. And over here we find Mr. Stookcy leading his ragtime band. Swing it, Stookey. Do I hear angels singing? No, I see now ’tis the Girls’ Glee Club, harmonizing as usual. And over there is the Boys’ Singin’ Society. Hit ’em low, boys. Listen to the Freshics bellowing it out in yonder. The Freshman Chorus can really go to town. There’s the B-band, and the B-orchcstra strug- gling along; and the instrumental classes and applied music pupils. Keep practicing, studes. You’ll be tops some day. PHYSICAL EDUCATION Since our Physical Education Department was established in 1928, there has been a constant increase in the number of pupils, teachers, and amount of equipment. To the Freshman and Sophomore, unless he is physically unable, gym is compulsary. Many Juniors and Seniors choose gym as one of their electives. The Freshman course is general but at the close of the first year, the student is allowed to choose an activity to specialize in during his second year. Health, a physiology course, is taught alternately with gym. The splendid teachers, three gymnasiums, beauti- ful swimming pool, eight acre playground, which includes a lighted football field, make Murphy’s department among the best of high school Physical Education Departments. 26

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HOME ECONOMICS Though the courses of the Home Economics department are very practical this department has one of the smallest teaching staffs at Murphy, there being only five teachers. Miss Annie Louise Smith is the interested and very competent director. Even with so limited a faculty the courses are as varied as those of any other large high school. House Planning, Household Management, Child Care, Foods, and three years of Clothing are the subjects which are offered. Each year the depart- ment sponsors for one of the P.-T. A. meetings a fashion show in which the girls model the clothes that they have made. Surely time spent in these courses is time well spent for any girl. LANGUAGE In the Language Department three courses are offered—Latin, Spanish, and French. The Spanish Department is composed of three full time teachers: Miss Rubira, Mrs. Fulcher, and Miss Spradlin, and one part time teacher, Mrs. Daughdrill, with Miss Spradlin as director. Mr. Venman teaches both firsct and second year French. The Latin Depart- ment measures up to its average number of pupils even though there is no Senior Latin class this year. So few pupils signed up for “Virgil” that a class was not justified. There are twelve classes requiring two full time Latin teachers, Miss Duffee and Miss Tait, and one part time teacher, Miss Gay. Miss Duffee is the affable head of this department. INDUSTRIAL AND FINE ARTS Offering courses in all forms of practical art, from freehand drawing to metal-working, the Industrial and Fine Arts Department is an im- portant factor in the making of useful citizens of the future. Eight teachers, under the directorship of Mr. Hubbard, instruct students in printing, auto mechanics, commercial art, wood-working, machine drawing, and the use of machinery. The purpose of the department is to give students information about tools, materials, and processes; and to give them experience in various lines of practical work by actually using this knowledge and making useful projects. This method of learning by doing helps students to decide upon their vocations after leaving school, besides providing worthwhile leisure time activities. 25

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SCIENCE Through general science, biology, physics, and chemistry, the four branches of our Science Depart- ment, Murphy students are taught to think clearly upon the relationship of their physical and biological universe. General Science, a required Freshman subject, deals with many topics of a fundamental scientific nature which the three other subjects expand. Of the other courses offered, the student must take one, but the close relation of chemistry to biology, and physics make it desirable for the student to take all three as electives. In each, he is encouraged to make individual research work through experimentation, reading, and home proj- ects. Programs of these subjects include reading, study, regular laboratory days, and class discus- sions on unit topics. VOCATIONAL To help boys and girls enter useful occupations with advanced standing is the object of Murphy’s Vocational Department. An all day class in auto mechanics, a two year course for boys, does not give credit for graduation, but the student does receive a special certificate. Part time classes are offered to Juniors and Seniors who are sixteen years of age or older. Each day these students spend three hours in regular and special school studies and work three hours ina shop, store, plant, office, or other approved place of employment. At the close of four years in high school they re- ceive a diploma which is accepted for college entrance. LIBRARY Believing that students should spend their spare time to the best advantage, the Library depart- ment, under the able directorship of Miss Elizabeth Moffat, tries to provide attractive library facilities for Murphy. The library not only helps students with their school work, but makes them better informed and trains them to be better citizens. Planned so as to meet the needs of the pupils in their classrooms, the collection of material is gathered according to the various subjects. To help in choosing their vocations, the library has much material concerning hobby interests of stu- dents to encourage further work in those lines. Contemporary magazines and the finest books are secured in the best interests of the school. 27