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

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aid 1 4 ' 1' ' 31th; Ugthuul pthrarg The High School Library, which was formerly a branch library for the English anti History departments, is now in constant use for nearly all of the departments of the school. Each year it has grown until now it contains 2,705 volumes. When reference work is assigned, the teacher gives the pupil a pass from the study hall to the library, where he stays for the period. If the pupil prefers, he may come to the library between periods and take the book to the study hall for one period. In every English class each pupil must report on three books every term and in every history class two reports are required. Pupils are allowed to borrow for home reading the books needed for these reports. The High School librarian, Miss Marvis Summers, is assisted by four high school studentS-Hassie Placette, Jamal Antone, Paul Ketcherside, and Norman Castanie. ?m w 1339 k4 WI 317V'h - Critgh hthnu k m m y 2111mm fit rang Memorial Library serves as a supplementary library for the High School. There are four chief services which it renders tD Its newspapers and magazines furnish material for reports on subjects of current interest. at Its reference books and bound magazines are used for the research term themes required in such courses as high senior English, American history, civics,

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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.

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ftUihrarg LStaff hHigh School Work at Memorial Library Contmuedh economics, English history, and chemistry Its staff frequently prepaxe bibliographies and assemble material on subjects upon which entire classes are working very English class is given one lesson per term upon the use of books and libraries. All these lessons with the exception of those for the fall term low sopho- mores are given by the librar an. The subjects this year have been as follows 10W freshmen, hEncyclopedia , high freshmen, Indexes and Contents , low sophomores, The DActionary , high sophomores, hThc Card Catalog , low juniors, hThe Readers' Cuide , high juniors, Our Best Magaz nes,', low seniors, The Value of Reading , and high seniors, mrhe Graduation Essay In addition to the work done at Memorial Library during regular school day, many pupils study here after school hours and on Saturdays, and during the lunch period many pupils enjoy coming here to read magazines and to look over the fiction. November 8-14 Memorial Library sponsored the observance of Young People's Book Week. Appropriate programs were given in the various home rooms and the English department and the art classes participated in contests, prizes for which were given by the Department Club. Winners in these contests were as follows freshmen essay contest, Carl Smith, sophomore and junior essay contest, Myrtle Pine, poster contest, Mabel Corning, speech contest for all English and public speaking classes, Sybil Powers, first place and Beryl Hamm, second place. The staff of Memorial Library consists of Miss Mary E. Donaldson, librarian, Misses Rosa Gerrietts, Adele Ellisor, and Gladys Baker, assistants, and Miss Doris Scallorn, substitute. ,