Prophetstown High School - Prophet Yearbook (Prophetstown, IL)

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Physics is a scientific study of the physical changes. There are fourteen in this class. Zoology is a scientific study of animals, that is, life hab- its, construction of the exterior and interior parts. There were twenty in this class. It is a half-year subject and was given the first semester. During the last semester Botany is taken up. There are sixteen in this class. MUSIC Music in the high school is carried on under the supervis- ion of Mrs. V. R. Olmstead twice a week. The work con- sists of choruses and part work. The Laurel and School Song Books and phamplet music are used. SEWING The work in sewing consists of fundamental stitches and the making of simple garments as aprons, undergarments, and blouses the first semester. The work is somewhat more advanced the second semester and consists in making middy suits, gingham and organdy dresses. Some smal- ler articles are made during the year for which girls make their own original designe. DOMESTIC SCIENCE During the first year domestic science the different clases of foodstuffs and the proper method of cooking each are studied. The latter part of the year is given over to combining foodstuffs in the making of cake pastries, breads etc. The work in the second year is a continuation of the first year only in a more advanced form, during the first semes- ter. The second semester is devoted to a dietic study of foods, what different people need and the fuel value of dif- ferent foods. ENGLISH The study of English in its various phases and branches ought to do two things for every student of it. First, it ought to make him realize the lack of or need for accurate speaking and writing which society demands of him, then secondly, it ought to help him perfect that lack. The work in the Freshmen English includes the principles of grammar and a theoretical study of -rhetoric. Five classes are studied each semester. The second year work consists of the study of rhetoric, poems, novels and dramas, also oral and written composi- tion work. During the third and fourth year the work consists of the History of English and American literature. Essays, poetry, biographies and autobiographies are read during the third and fourth years. HISTORY An education is considered far from complete without a knowledge of history. It is taught during three years of high school, beginning with the second year. A boy or girl cannot read intelligently the current news unless they understand something of the workings of such

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SCHOOL WORK We offer three units in Mathematicsg two are required and one is offered as an elective. Algebra I and Plane Ge- ometry are the required subjects and Algebra II and solid Geometry the electives. -- Mathematics is a mountain. Vigor is needed for its ascent. The views all along the paths are magnificent. The effort of climbing is stimulating. A guide who points out the beauties, the granduer, and the special places of interest commands the admiration of his group of pilgrims. One who fails to do this, who does not know the paths, is un- worthy of his position. The pretended guide who says that the painted panorama, seen from the ruber tired car, is as good as the view from the summit is simply a fakir and is generally recognized as such. The mountain will standg it will not be used as a mere commercial-quarry for building stone, it will not be affected by pellets thrown from the little hillocks aboutg but its paths will be freed from unnec- essary flints, they will be straightened where this can ad- vantageously be done, and new paths on entirely novel plans will be made as time goes on, but these paths will be hewed out of rock, not made out of the dreams of a day. Every worthy guide will assist in all these efforts at betterment, and will urge the pilgrim at least to ascend a little way be- cause of the fact that the same view cannot be obtained from other peaksg but he will not take seriously the efforts of the fakir, nor will he listen with more than passing interest to him who proclaims the sand heap to be a Matterhorn. LATIN Latin is taught during two years of high school. It is completely elective. The study of Latin has for the student three fundamen- tal values: first it affords him mental discipline of the high- est characterg second, it trains him in the precise use of Englishg and third, it acquaints him with the civilization and literature of -one of the very mighty relations of the past which have made large contributions to the world's culture. However the most practical of all reasons for its study is the help given in understanding and using English. FRENCH Since the late war there has been a greater demand than ever for not only a reading but speaking knowledge of the the French. Aside from the mental training it affords every person a culture who sooner or later desires it. During the first year the chief purpose is to lay stress on fundamentals. The books read are Querber's Contes et Legendes and Labiche's Le Voyage de Perrichonf' During the second year a review of the fundamentals is given. SCIENCES The three sciences that are taught in our high school are Physics, Zoology, and Botany.

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organizations as the Englinsh Cabinet, Parliament, French Chambers, etc. A study of history will help the student to understand the changes and to solve the problems as they appear for solution. Ancient History is taught during the second year. It gives a geography of the Oriental nations, a knowledge of their civilization, and influence on later times. Modern and Mediavel History which is taught in the third year takes up the developement of Western Europe. During the fourth year American History is taken up. It is a study of our national developement. CIVICS Our aim in American Government is to make the course as practical as possible. We covered the work on the nat- ional, state and local government. Then we took up the work on political parties and our present national and inter- national problems that are concerned with politics. Civics is only a half year subject and is taught during the first semester. ECONOMICS Economics is taught during the second semester. It deals with the fundamental factors in our present econom- ics era, which are exchange, wealth, transportation, supply, demand and capital. As much as possible is taken up soci- ology in connection with economics. Social reforms are taken up the latter part of the year. Tariff, foregin ex- change and other economic events that are taking place from time to time are also studied.