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

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1 mp 5V3 aulkmulmm S OME one has said that we do not actu- ally know anything, unless we can put it down in numbers. This is a broad statement, it is true, but at the same time we do not know much of anything, that is, if we can not express it in numbers. Numbers, however, are only a small part of the work of the Mathematics Department. We study other kinds besides. The freshmen have the four fundamental operations parenthesis, special rules for multiplication, factoring, frac- tions, and fractional equations. When they get through with this they are well prepared to study more Algebra. The sophomores have different problems in a1gebra.Plane geometry for the juniors and Solid geometry for the seniors. iWentworth- Smith's text books are used in advanced arith- metic, trigonometry, geometry and algebraJ All of these courses offer affiliated units in mathe- matics. t t l Regardless of whether a student passes of fails in mathematics they are better citizens for having been exposed to it. For, as some one said, I am a part of all that I have met, and what is more honest and truthful than mathematics? 1:1 5 Hill Johanna Ruysenaars. n CIENCE is nothing but trained and or- ganized common sense, says Huxley. Science has played a great part in 0111 city Science built our refineries, dug ou1' canal, built our city, and last but not least im- portant our scientific educators put a science department in the school system. We have over n ne hundred pupils taking science and it is a very active subject. The science department has two fundamental aims, and if anything has been accomplished along these lines, then our year's work has not been in vain. First, to teach science in such a way as to help someone lead a better life in a better way; and second, to help one appreciate the things that one sees around himi There are seven courses of science offered at Port Arthur High School. Physiology and home nursing, open to freshmen and sophomores include to care for the body when sick and when well. General science and physical geography, open to freshmen and sophomores treat of such sub- jects as rainfall, contnu1 maps, weather reports and soil. Biology is a sophomore subject, dealing with the life of plants and animals. Chemistry is a junior or seniox subject, dealing with chemical reactions and man s efforts t9 control them. -----l-lumllh Ijelirl I I E 'm- 1 5 3 st ysws is a junior or senior subject dealing with electricity, magnitism, heat, light, ' L5 and work. - in -eJohanna Ruysenaars. .1 DI . 4' I - 1- A; 1-17 m 'l w r :l iWijj : 1-17- In, El Eta

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- T .- 77 Nwei, ,, ,, TM 1 at U, 1K 13 a .- .hv WE GUHMM gilligl 1, rejoininiuxik: THE LIBRARIES Increased enrollment and changes in teaching methods have this year taxed to the utmost the book supply at both the High School Library and Memorial Library. Our new principal, Mr. Jones, is a firm believer in the value of a library. He has fre- quently been heard to declare that the library should be the heart of the school. He believes that instead of relying on ntext books students should get their information from many books. Differences in schedules have made necessary two library systemsane for the senior high school and one for the junior. The plan for the senior high is the same as that which has been used for several years. Pupils borrow from the High School Library the books needed for their book reports for English and history. They also do much of their reference work in the school library, but for many assignments, especially those involving the use of maga- zines, it is necessary that they go to Memorial Library. lull. lehlwl; The junior high pupils do not have study periods nor are they assigned to the library for certain periods as they were in the elementary schools. But this does not mean that they do not have library advantages. The teachers take to their classrooms library books, magazines, and pamphlets dealing with various subjects which their classes are studying. Moreover, the junior high pupils flock to Memorial Library at lunch period and after school. Usually they come to get books for home readinge either for their English book reports or just for pleasure. Occasionally they do ref- erence work for special reports. JJ Both the High School Library and Memorial Library have been very active in aiding the various clubs which have been organized this year. Clubs that have prob- ably made greatest use of library material are the book lovers and book readers' clubs, and the clubs studying heroes of the past. This year, as has been the custom for several years, Miss Donaldson has given lessons to the various English classes, showing them how to use books and libraries. As a general rule, the students enjoy these lessons; they often speak of how they like to become independent and find for themselves the information that they need. This school year ninety-three such lessons have been given. I:I;1 A Increased demands for book service at the High School Library have made neces- sary material additions to the book stock there. Last year this library had only 2,765 volumnes; now it has 4,021 books and in addition a large number of pamphlets. Miss Marvis Summers is the librarian at High School. Before and after school she is assisted by Jamal Antone and Bennett Tomplait. The following members of the Senior Library Club help during the day: Theron McFarland, May Prichard, Maxine Watler, Alice Clarey, Loma Weleh, Arlene Hanchett, and Jane Hebert. The High School Library has this year secured a large number of books of a new nature, in respect to present ones. Three or four sets of science books were ac- quired, and also books dealing with vocational intreests. Books for assistance to students who take shop work were obtained, and then numerous works for teachers only are to be found in the library. The high school library is growing very rapidly, and the Memorial Library is keeping pace. The staff at Memorial Library consists of Miss Mary E. Donaldson, librarian, and Misses Rosa M. Gerrietts, Adele Ellisor, Doris Scallorn, and Ruby Ward, assistants. , During the spring term two high school students tSarah Brown and Vearl Clareyi iii have done volunteer work at Memorial Library. I

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AJ-z-LUHI. U. 1.1 .Mumfk 1 23am? si 3N the English department many changes have been made which contribute to the growing capacity of the students knowl- edge. Science seems to be making many IS effective gains because students are being taught on a psychological basis, which tends to exoner- ate them from having English as a drudgery, but by presenting to them English on an elevated and easier grasping plane. When English is looked upon as it was this year, many of the students are relieved to know that in the coming years there will be only three years of English, while at present four years are required. When the work that the English department has accomplished in the past year is summarized, it is found that an abundance of choice material is always present. The types of literature have been studied in accordance with the lives of au- thors and their literary characteristics which so well portray the age in which they lived. Again, as every year rolls along, we study that book which treats English, primarily, as the art and l ' science of organizing thought, then using it to communicate with others in an effective way. As a concluding word. we may summon remembrance to things past and ex- press ourselves by coming to the decision that we can not outgrow literature as we do scientific knowledge of the past generations. Whether the literature was written one or a thousand years ago makes no difference because literature is that one essen- tial thing Which is the expression of life. ePaul Monaghan. Inlelml : xs AI;lel:l vismn of Miss Texie Smyth, has become very interesting this year, due to the new method of teaching. The number of pu- $8 or pils in the department has increased considerably. The demand for the study of economics has be- come so popular among the students, that two new classes were required. We are wondering if it was the subject or the teacher. Sociology and Civics have been in demand more than ever before. Beginning next term only two years of history will be required to graduate, American and one other. We feel certain, how- ever, that all the classes will be overflowing in the future. One of the interesting events of the past year was an election conducted by the Civics class. This was carried on in the same manner as our city and state elections. First, a primary elec- tion, which was followed in the Fall by the gen- eral election. It is interesting indeed to note, that the candidate elected by the students were the same, in most cases, as those elected by their parents. Students of Civics are taught all rules of citizenship; abiding by them has become a habit among the students. EHE History Department, under the super- I I I I IeI I I It. I IfIiE III A H- mum. Jli b eMinnie Ruth Edge.