Port Arthur High School - Sea Gull Yearbook (Port Arthur, TX)

Page 19 text:

gMa-ww. A-wax a.

Page 21 text:

EEnglieh Bepartment If a poor man were heir to jewels valued at millions, yet were unable to convert those jewels into forms of wealth that would assist him in this world, he would remain a poor man. So the man who is hem to the rich jewels available in the literature of the English race, remains a poor man unless he can transmit those riches into a form which he can use. It is the object of the student of English to find these riches and to learn to use them. In the study of English literature the seeker finds knowledge of inestim- able worth, Af he nnasters these thoughts so that he can use them, they become a gold- en treasury whose resources are infinite. With Burns and Tennyson he glimpses the supreme ideal that nIt's coming yet, for a' that, That man to man, the world o'er, Shall brothers be for a' that. Such ideals bring happiness, contentment, and give a purpose to life. Besides having the opportunity of associating with the greatest minds of the ages through the study of literature, the English student attempts a second goal-to attain riches that come from the use of words. The achievement of right expression in oral and written composition provides wealth which commands the respect of friends, wins the esteem of successful men, and brings to the user the greatest satisfaction. A review of the year's activities of the English Department shows among many other things observance of Fire Prevention Week and of Better Book Week, prepara- tion of exhibits for the fair, essay contests on Why the Census Should be Taken and Tree Planthg in Port Arthur ; public speaking students sent to woments and men 5 clubs, and to the theatres, to give talks on campaigns conducted by the Y M. B. L; two plays, ttIt Pays to Advertise and HThe Whole Town's Talking ; declaimers and de- baters in the Inter ' ' in League, , 't' projects; L t' of The Pilot , the page of school news in the Sunday issues of The Port Arthur News , and of the uSea Gull , our annual. Eietnrg Eepartment Nearly a thousand students of P A. H. S. enroll in the History Department each term. Altho only aneeent history, and medieval and modern history are required, the electives, English history, American history, civics, economics, and sociology are be- coming more popular all of the time. All freshmen sign up for a two years' trip. First they travel to far away Medite erranean waters and enjoy a cruise along its borders, learning the lore of the Egyptians, Babylonians, Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans, meeting the great leaders and makers of history, such as Moses, Pericles, Alexander, and Caesar, touching elbows with the cule ture of Greece, the luxury of the Ornent, and the cosmopolitanism of Rome. Later they tour the continent of Europe and view the rise of the nations, gaze on the faces of Charlemagne, Gregory, Luther, and Bismark and note the marks of their influences on Europe, even to our own day Some students declare this long journey enough. They return to the homeland content to recall the pleasant trip only as they may need to turn Memory's pages. But one group of travelers linger for a trip through England. They follow the footprints of Saxon Democracy and Religious Liberty Finally they discover these mighty leaders of progress setting Sail across the broad Atlantic. Eager- ly the interested travelers return to North American shores and watch the rise of the mightiest advocate of democracy and religious liberty the world has ever known. But these travelers are not content to settle down until they have gazed long and earnestly on three monuments to progress and happiness, namely, Civics, Economics, and Socio- Ogy Throughout this tour of four years the students of P A. H. S. keep constantly in touch with the hume-land through The World Review and The Literary Digest.