Plainfield High School - Silhouettes Yearbook (Plainfield, IN)

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A crucible's eye view is shown as Seniors Raymond Vieth and Stanley Walton (top) perform a Water Hydration Experiment. I am a rock. But I do more than just lay here and slowly de- compose; I provide subject matter for physics class. Doing his daily exercises, Junior Mike Rissler finishes his physics problems during class study time. 28

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and speak of many things” Days at the Square Table No need for Am. prob. to journey to times of old to find problems. Pupil's days are filled with solving today's troubles. The time has come, the Walrus said, To speak of many things. Of shoes and ships and sealing wax And cabbages and kings. Like Alice trying to understand the unusual creatures of the strange wonderland into which she had fallen, PHS students in their sociology, psy- chology, and American problems classes grappled with the study of man and his behavior in his own world of wonder. The students learned that these subjects were the broadest in scope that they would most likely encounter—and perhaps the most help- ful to themselves. Sociology and psychology would both be subjects that the student would personally use daily long after the textbooks were put away. Psychology embraces growth patterns of the indi- vidual including development of personality, emotional growth of male and female, love and marriage, problems of mental illness, and approach- es to good mental health. The students were en- couraged to relate personally to these studies to better understand and cope with personal behavior problems. Sociology and American Problems courses truly speak of many things : Dating, drinking, marriage, divorce, juvenile delinquency, population explo- sion, racial revolution, crime and punishment—all the forces which shape personality in its social in- teraction and communication in group and com- munity relationships, are within its limits. Every class discussion, from hippies to happiness invoked lively student participation. Through textbook reading, current events, and films and tapes, psychology, sociology, and Ameri- can Problems students gained a keener insight to the problems of today's society. Guest speakers and a field trip to the Indiana Boys' School brought PHS students closer to the problems they tackled throughout the semester. 27

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science jungle” proves challenge for pupils O Mr. Loy Physics, physical science Fractured light. Light rays are broken down for physical science in this Light Refraction Experiment. Mr. Crosskreutz holds a cram session before semester tests. The place: Somewhere near the Congo Red, deep in the jungle of Centigram Balance. Two fig- ures are hovering over the light of a single, bluish flame. The begoggled one first speaks: Stop dropping those Methyl Violets! Oh, that shows what you know! It doesn't matter how many we use in the experiment. We're working with a buoyant force. Don't point your old crucible tongs at me! Not all PHS'ers lost their way in the wilds of chemistry, physics, and physical science. With Chemistry Teacher Mr. Crosskreutz, and Physics Physical Science Teacher Mr. Loy leading the way, pupils were taught through experiments. After studying elements, valences, and equation- balancing, chemistry students used these studies in solving different types of problems. Always with the thought of Chemistry is the science that deals with the study of matter and the changes it can under- go, pupils forged ahead with electron configu- ration, Boyle's and Charles' Law, bases and salts, and behavior of gases, solids, liquids, and others. Picking up stones and looking at stars along the way, physical science pupils studied botany and as- tronomy, while physics studies included light, levers, and the principles behind them. Daily ex- ercises were not forgotten as class members worked problem sets in their physics workbook. Mr. Grosskreutz Chemistry