Paris High School - Arena Yearbook (Paris, IL)

Page 16 text:

 ENGLISH DEPARTMENT Maude E. Dorsett, A.B. Georgana Green, Ph.B. Remember when English was all commas and question marks. Shakespeare and Milton? It's not that way now. These things still have their place, but if you stepped into an English clossroom today, you would be apt to think it a class in speech or journalism, or perhaps drama, and maybe radio. Future journalists get the chance to show originality and writing ability, and receive con- structive criticism, not only in weekly themes, but even in personally written newspapers. They'll cover the world-shaking events of to- morrow with poise and practice. For the stu- dents interested in radio work, the clever skits and dramatizations, written and produced by themselves, in connection with the study of the drama, are particularly absorbing. Writing let- ters to servicemen of Paris High is a unique highlight in some closses. And don't think the boys aren't glad to get all the inside informa- tion on basketball, dances, and all the features in high school life! You're just as apt to find an English student reading the latest best seller for a current book review as reading an old biography or tale of long ago. Are you inter- ested in writing poetry? Then step right in, for some classes write original ballads along with the study of their origin and construction. The students owe this modern, balanced Eng- lish program to several teachers: Miss Cross. Miss Dayton. Miss Dorsett. Miss Green, and Miss Hochstrasser. Their genuine, unflagging in- terest has given keener insight and higher ideals. Their aim has been to make English practicable and usable in everyday living.

Page 15 text:

DEMOCRACY AT WORK September of 1944 launched the third year of student government. The Student Council is under the direction of Mr. Forster, with Miss Haas and Mr. Hoke serving os faculty ad- visers. This group of students meets weekly to plan dances, scrap drives, and other activi- ties. The council is composed of twenty-five mem- bers. one from each of the home rooms. There are eight freshman, six sophomore, six junior, and five senior representatives. Mary Murphy, a senior, is an honorary member, since she was the representative at the Student Council Con- vention held in Chicogo last year. The officers of the Student Council ore as follows: Frank Steidl. president: Bob Murphy, vice president: Mary Dickenson, secretory-treasurer: and John Frazier, reporter. The Executive Board of the Student Council is composed of ten members. This group serves os a higher committee for the council. Mem- bership is limited to three seniors, three juniors, and two each from the freshman and sophomore classes. Some of the duties of this group are to elect suitable officers for the Student Coun- cil and to decide which problems ore most urgent. The Student Council has become a vital or- ganization of the school. Representing the voice of the students, it helps promote cooperation between the faculty and student-body. It is an opportunity to practice democracy. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FIRST ROW: Frazier. Dickenson. Steidl. Eld- redge. Campbell. SEC- OND ROW: Brunsman. Z i e r e n, B. Murphy. Bishop. STUDENT COUNCIL FIRST ROW: Parrish. Frazier. Dickenson. Ste- idl. Elderdge. Camp- bell. K.enost. SECOND ROW: Miss Hoos. Brunsman. Knight. Thompson. M. Murphy. Zieren. Gilbort. Run- yon. B. Murphy, Harris, Hodge. Mr. Forster. Mr. Hoke. THIRD ROW: Toflingor. Bishop. Spier- ling. loffland.

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SPEECH DEPARTMENT The speech course with Miss Cross os instructor, is divided into two courses of study. In the first semester the students study parliamentary procedure, public speaking, and radio. While studying radio, the students make recordings of their voices. The second semester of work is devoted, in the main, to dramatics and de- bate. In addition to directing the class plays Miss Cross also teaches two classes of freshman and one class of sophomore English. Virginia Cross, B.S. The Speech Club is a great osset to the speech de- portment because it gives many students interested in dramatics a chance to act upon the stage. The pro- grams for the evening are usually plays, speeches, or pantomimes. When the program for the evening is over, constructive criticism is given by the students. This teaches the students to listen attentively so as to pick out the strong and weak points of the acting. The Speech Club is achieving its prime purpose, which is to SPEECH CLUB instil self-confidence in the students. flRST ROW: Rosenberg, Foley. Murphy. Sprague. Reynolds. Miss Cross. Win- ons. Von Zont. Bristow. Sunkol, Voughn. Hort. SECOND ROW: Shoaff. Kienost. Fro ier. Toit. Oetzel. Zieren. Peormon. Sprouts. McKinzie, Whitton. Lucas. Ariens. Lind- sey. THIRD ROW: Myers, Thompson. Clark. Major. Airhart. Bibo. Gibb. Hollings- worth. Downing. Konnedy. Moss. Hunter. Asher. Frozior. Spierling. FOURTH ROW: Show. Campbell, Chenoweth. Dohms. Kimble. Forrol. Forster. Elom. Askin, Wadsworth. Krumpeck.