Oakwood High School - Acorn Yearbook (Dayton, OH)

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I -'ggf A C 0 R N E T f' VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE For the last three years Oakwood has had an unusual course in the senior year in career- finding and in college guidance. All seniors take this course which includes: CID intensive study Q of at least one vocation and an interview with some man or woman in that vocation: C25 the l YZ I l I nh l Ten study of at least one college, including courses offered, and a budget of expenses for first year: C31 a self-analysis study, using outlines and charts that have been prepared. There is also an elementary course in vocational guidance in the seventh year and in the eighth year, in order to give proper direction to the junior high school pupils. STUDENT FORUMS In order to develop self-expression on the part of all pupils. a new project was introduced this year. The seventh and eighth year pupils met as a group of approximately two hundred during the fifth period on every Wednesday afternoon. the ninth year as a group of one hundred met the sixth period, and the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth years met as a group of two hundred and fifty during the seventh period. With the encouragement and suggestions of three respective faculty committees, these groups carried out weekly programs of expression work in vocal and instrumental music, art, physical education. parliamentary procedure, talks, discussions, debates. reports, and playlets. As high as fifty in number have taken part in one weekly program. As a result of these programs there is confidence and self-assurance and a spontaneity that gives promise of active participation and leadership in future adult affairs. This year has also seen for the first time the formation of permanent subject committees among the faculty for the purpose of studying and revising the curriculum. A complete tentative outline of the course of study has been compiled and printed. We are including in this report the summaries of the work carried on in the different depart- ments of the school as prepared by the chairman of these departments. . ENGLISH The English department has sought to develop ability to read with understanding and to write correctly. More and better creative wlork especially in poetry, has been done this year and use of the library for supplementary reading has increased. Last June three eleventh-year students and three twelfth-year students passed Comprehensive College Board English. One ninth-year girl and one seventh year girl won first prizes in their respective years in the Dayton Community Chest Essay Contest. MATHEMATICS In our schools all pupils study mathematics through the eleventh year. Students who intend to enter Engineering schools may take Solid Geometry and Trigonometry in the twelfth year. More work has been accomplished by the mathematics classes this year than previously. The x and y classes in the eighth year were able to finish arithmetic by the middle of the year and begin regular Algebra. This step-up in the course will permit the addition of Advanced Algebra to our curriculum in the middle of the tenth year. This additional course will aid our graduates in industry and give them special advantages in their freshman year in college mathematics. NATURAL SCIENCES E In the sciences, including Elementary Science in the seventh and eighth years, Biology in the ninth. Chemistry in the eleventh, and Physics in the twelfth, accuracy, thoroughness, and logical thinking have been emphasized. In Biology the pupil is trained to respect and protect his own body and all living things. The year's work in Chemistry and in Physics has been marked by drill in precise statement of theory and accuracy in calculation, together with broad .. DV.-

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IEW' V nl. ,.,, 4. H' Si 3. 1 1. 'S 2 Il THE ACORN QQ TT O Annual Report of the Principal LTHOUG1-1 in industry this period from September 8, 1930, to June 2, 1931. has been a period of depression, in Oakwood High School it has been a school year marked by good health on the part of the boys and girls, with freedom from much sickness and serious ac- cidents. with our largest high school enrollment-552 as compared with 499 the preceding year- with a high attendance record of 94.5 per cent, and with industrious application and excellent achievement in the many curricular and extra-curricular pursuits of the school. We are all very proud of our graduating class, the eighth and the largest class to graduate from Oakwood in.the history of the school: and one of the best classes in school spirit, in right attitudes. and in Cooperation that we have ever had. An outstanding event in the history of the high school was the decision of the Board of Education and the Superintendent of Instruction to build a new junior high school. providing for the separation of the junior and senior high schools. The bond issue of 3360.000 for th: acquisition of land and for the construction and equipment of the new junior high school was carried in the November election by the vote of 1817 to 902. After the sale of bonds, drawing up of plans by the architects, and advertising for bids. construction work began in April. THE PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION Nine well-attended monthly meetings were held during the year and six evening dinners. The organization gave very active support to the school program. cooperated in bringing Superintendent Beatty of Bronxville, N. Y., for the March meeting of six hundred Oakwood School patrons, and awarded the scholarship and the athletic prizes for the year to the pupils. FOLLOW-UP OF GRADUATES Of the 205 graduates to date Cexclusive of the present graduating classj, 170, an unusual number. have taken advanced courses in colleges. technical schools. or finishing schools. Thirty- five have gone directly into industry or home-making. In this school year there were 105 attending 55 different colleges. There are 64 of these enrolled in Midwestern colleges, 32 in Eastern colleges, 7 in Southern colleges, 1 in a far-Western college, and 2 in foreign schools. Oakwood has graduates in both West Point and Annapolis. with its certificate recognized by them. HOME-ROOMS In order to inculcate virtue as well as knowledge, in order to give the necessary educational and vocational guidance that modern life demands. the plan of six-year adviserships for home- rooms. men for boys and women for girls, was instituted seven years ago. Some very close relationships have been developed as a result between our youth and teachers, that, judging from the frequent retum of our graduates to see their former advisers. bids fair to be lasting. The program of home-room activities this year under each adviser has included individual private conferences, follow-up of school work to secure good results and prevent failure, talks and discussions on proper conduct, attitudes, ideals, emphasis on honesty. courtesy, courage, self- control and direction, good humor and industry, study of current events and current life, and information regarding vocations and colleges. 1 5 N

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if , ' V91 Ii if or Yi l t I i . TP C' THE FAC0,RNi 'W' A A G supplementary readings. With the cooperation of the English department, the results of this reading were incorporated in a 2500-word theme. Many essays were entered in the American Chemical Society Prize Essay Contest. SOCIAL SCIENCES The social sciences include the study of U. S. history, geography and civics in the seventh and eighth years, Ancient History in the tenth year, Modern History in the eleventh year. and American History and Government in the twelfth year. A work book was added to senior American History this year, and more emphasis placed on College Board requirements. First and second places were taken last year by Oakwood students in the Citizenship Essay Contest sponsored by the Civitan Club. Several essays were entered in the contest again this year. LATIN The value of Latin to English and the other subjects in the school curriculum has been stressed throughout the year's work. Many books dealing with classical subjects have been added to the library for collateral reading. An exploratory course has been offered for all seventh-year pupils, and Latin V, equivalent to college freshman Latin, will be added for advanced students. Twelve students will represent the Latin department in the College Board Examinations this year. FRENCH There has been a very definite effort to make the transition from the French of the elementary grades to that of the high school less marked. Great stress has been laid upon the practical side of the language through the introduction of considerable conversational material. Much more composition work has been introduced this year: the students of the advanced classes were required to read at least one supplementary classic in addition to the regular class work. An effort has been made to keep in mind the various college requirements and the usability of the language for travel SPANISH The aim of the Spanish department has been to offer a course that meets all College Board requirements and at the same time stimulates an interest in Spanish as a living language. In order to develop interest in practical Spanish a club has been organized: the outstanding accomplish- ments of this organization this year were the presentation of two Fiestas, one before the Christ- mas holidays and one in May. COMMERCIAL ARTS Typewriting and Shorthand were the only commercial subjects offered this year: advanced shorthand and bookkeeping will be added next year. In beginning typewriting two students distinguished themselves by attaining speeds of fifty-one and fifty-eight words per minute: the requirement for the first year is twenty-five words per minute. In the shorthand class, the entire Gregg manual is completed and students are able to take dictation at a rate of about 60 words per minute on straight material at the end of the year. HOUSEHOLD ARTS The aim of this department is to inculcate a realization of the basic importance of the girl's relationship to the home, along with practical instruction in dress designing and nutrition. An exhibit is held each year before the Christmas Holidays at which time the handwork of the E Y I Eleven