North Mecklenburg High School - Viking Yearbook (Huntersville, NC)

Page 13 text:

Each year English classes are taught the use of the library. Good reading is stressed in each class, and good books are required to be read tor book reports. Students are encouraged to read good literature dur- ing their leisure time, so as to cultivate an appreciation of the best that has been written. But the greatest aim of the work in language is to equip students to think critically and to express ideas clearly and concretely, for to be successful requires the ability to do each of these equally well. vg3sQW:f G J. Auten, R. Mayhew, J. Knox, and L. Griffin work in we o Q o ' - s ' ' ' French was in the curriculum from the very begin- ning of the school. This language helps one to under- stand his own language better, for many of our words are derived from French words. Most colleges require two years of French or some other foreign language. Latin was added to the course of study in the second year of North's operation. The class was small, but it was library on an assignment in magazines. the forerunner of much larger classes and more interest in the subiect. Seventy-six per cent of English words come from Latin roots, therefore, a student who learns his Latin vocabulary can readily transfer meaning to the similar English word. The Latin classes are taught in consecutive years, Latin l during one year and Latin ll the next. Alain Boiton reads a French magazine to Joan Hicks, Judy Honeycutt, and Robert Simril. Mrs. Holbrook looks approy- ingly at the Latin bulletin board as Jimmy Woods, Diane Andrews, Linda Kerley, and Jerry Youngblood finish with it. AA if jg MW .,-sk-4 1

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J Stewart, S. McAulay, A, Furr, and N. Brovyn form a panel with M. Blythe as mod- erator in Miss Richards' Class. M L. Meacham, D. Mc- Ree Miss Kiker, and B. i Abernethy listen as G. Bradley presides in a lesson on parliamentary procedure. Sharon Alexander explains the derivation of words in Mr. Biggerstaffs class while Eliza- beth Evans and Marshall Bar- nette look on, LA GUAGES PROVIDE FIRM FOU DATIONS FOR OTHER STUDIES ..... . Since the ability to express one's ideas and to under- stand others is of prime importance, English is required each of the three years at North. Sophomore English reviews the basic grammar taught in the elementary and iunior high schools. Literature in this grade is general and gives the student an opportunity to appreciate the work of many authors. In the iunior year American literature is taught, and much stress is placed on putting into practice what one has learned in the past years. Words and their uses are also stressed. Because words are the signs of ideas, it is important to develop as large a vocabulary as possible. One can develop a good vocabulary through careful reading and using the dictionary. Term papers, oral re- ports, impromptu talks, and panel discussions give the students a variety of experiences in their own language. In the senior year the student is expected to be much more mature in his work, putting more time into his themes, discussions, and reports. Here the student should have realized his definite needs and his weaknesses and apply himself accordingly. Those who are going to col- lege have some idea of what they must do to be pre- pared for college level work. Those who are going into the commercial field have realized their need for ac- curate spelling and the constant use of the dictionary and brevity and correctness of expression. Others have decided just what their needs are, also.

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Eddie Cobb does some welding while two members ot the class and Mr. Gabriel look on. Measure, pin and cut. Mary MacLain, Cynthia Ayers, and Joan Gant learn those things are required by Miss Ridge, the Home Ec. teacher. Erroll Mauldin gives an oral report in Distributive Education class. Miss Somers listens attentively. Jackie McGee works on his protect in lndustrial Arts. He must be right for Mr. Cochran smiles. Jimmy Brown has been working on a table. 1 t LEARNING T0 DO . . . DCI G TO LEAR Many classes at North are practical ones where the lesson is learned and put into practice at the same time. Vocational agriculture is a three year course and is elected by any boy interested in farming and related subiects. Here a boy learns about many things of value to him on the farm. He learns how to judge seeds, products, animals, and even the land. He learns how to take care of everything on the farm, how to repair machinery and farm buildings, and in some instances learns how to build the furniture, the cabinets, and other articles he might need. Shop provides much practical experience for the classes. lndustrial Arts affords an opportunity to learn by doing. Here the students learn to design and build. In Mechanical Drawing they learn to become draftsmen. They also learn many other principles involved in such work. Distributive Education deals with retailing, wholesaling, and ser- vices. Students study better methods of being successful in these fields and put into practice what they learn. They leave school each day to go to work, and on the job they are under the supervision of the DE teacher. They are graded on their work on the job just as they are graded on their work at school. Home Economics trains girls to be good homemakers. They learn to cook, sew, be gracious hostesses, develop pleasing personalities, and do other things. They learn proper relationships with other people, also. Much interest is taken in this course. I0