Reading Memorial High School - Pioneer Yearbook (Reading, MA)

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6 THE PIONEER. present year, one period a week has been de¬ voted to distinction in composition. In con¬ nection with the work a course of reading has been pursued. Each class at the beginning of the year was given a list of about forty well known books, written by the best English and American authors. From the list given to his class each pupil could choose such books as suited his taste. Every student was required to read one book each month, and to write an article once in two months, based upon the book as a whole, or upon some one of the principal characters in it. The purpose of this course has been to cul¬ tivate a taste for standard literature, and also to obtain practice in composition. We can hardly overestimate the value of a good education. Perhaps no one ever felt the lack of education more than did that unfortunate Queen of France, Marie Antoinette. Left by her mother during her childhood to the care of royal governesses, who cared more for instal- ing themselves in the good graces of the prin¬ cess than for supplying her with knowledge, she grew up with only a very deficient education. Afterward, in the gay court of Paris, sur¬ rounded by people of the highest intellectuality, she often had cause to regret the lime that she might have spent in study. She was often ridi¬ culed, and even made the laughing stock of l he French court, on account of the neglected state of her mind. It has ever been said that the lack of education was one of the causes of the unlucky queen’s downfall. Ilad she had a mind stored with knowl¬ edge, and acquainted with the history of former nations, she might better have known how to govern her own land. While this illustration is drawn from royalty, yet it is the testimony of men in every station of life that a good education is of inestimable value ; and that a lack of it is a hindrance to usefulness and advancement, if not a cause of failure. Therefore, as pupils let us avail ourselves fully of the opportunities offered us to acquire an education, and show our appreciation of them by faithfulness to our school duties. We wish to call the attention of our readers to the courses of study pursued in our school, pub¬ lished elsewhere in this number. There are at present four courses open to the pupils, the Eng¬ lish, the Latin-English, the Classical, and the Institute. The English course pays particular attention to the studv of English, French being the only other language required ; the Latin- English introduces the study of Latin ; the Classical includes the studies required for en¬ trance to college ; while the Institute takes only such studies as are required for the Massachu¬ setts Institute of Technology. The classical department was established in our school only about eight years ago ; but the number of pupils that have taken this course, and the creditable standing that they have uni¬ formly maintained in other schools is sufficient indication that our school is fulfilling the require¬ ments of the colleges for admission. We are wont proudly to say that we have made a great improvement in singing during the past year or so; and with certain modifications, this is true. Our chief fault is that we do not improve in the matter of watching the conductor. This is not due to any lack of Svengali-ism on his part, but to a persistent self-reliance on uurs. It is quite clear that the school believes in the maxim, “ Every man to his mind,” and - follows it determinedly. Nevertheless, our im¬ provement has been marked — thanks to our very efficient instructor — and we hope that we shall continue to improve the quality of our singing, until multitudes throng under our windows at music periods, and passers-by stand enthralled by our Orphean strains. If we all exert our¬ selves a trifle, no doubt this desirable stale of affairs will exist in the near future. The mathematical department also has shown

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The Pioneer. Vol. V. No. i. Reading, Mass., June, 1896 . Price 10 Cents. THE PIONEER. COMMENCEMENT NUMBER, EDITORS: Richard B. Hussey, ’96. Arthur H. Chandler, ‘97. Gertrude C. Brown, ’98. Mailing Clerk. Linnie J. Bancroft. Ten cents a copy. For sale at the various news stands. Entered at the Post-office at Heading as second class matter. Printed by C. M. Barrows Co., Boston. CONTENTS. Editorial.5 Prophecy . 7 Homeric Types of Character ... 8 R. H. S. Alphabet ...... 9 X-Rays ..10 My Nocturnal Adventure . . . . 11 Wants of the Sophomores .... 13 A Junior Girl’s Adventure on a Bicycle 14 Musical Talent in the R. H. S. . . . 14 R. H. S. Lunch Counter.15 Physical Training.15 A Trip Fishing.16 School Statistics.17 Graduation Program.17 Locals. iS Gifts to the R. H. S.19 Two Methods of Study .... 19 Webster’s First Bunker Hill Oration . 20 Courses of Study ...... 21 Answers to Correspondents ... 22 School Committee.22 List of Instructors and Pupils . . . 22 Alumni.27 EDITORIAL. Although it has been some time since we have had the pleasure of greeting you through these columns—and, indeed, the time has seemed long to us, even though it may not have to you—we fondly hope that you will welcome us back, and indulgently smile on our efforts. It was not a lack of desire to please you by editing this sheet which caused our temporary retirement from the literary world, nor yet was it an undue reticence to display our talents to the public—we are none of us afflicted in that way ; but it was that pain¬ ful and all too common ailment, lack of funds. An unappreciative world has deliberately refused to bestow banknotes upon 11 s, so we have punished it by turning our backs. But once more begging your kind indulgence, we bow before you. In presenting the commencement number of the Pioneer to the public, it is our desire to please and interest everyone. The purpose of the paper is not only to awaken an increased interest on the part of the pupils in composition, and to afford them practice in high school jour¬ nalism, but to serve as a medium of communica¬ tion between the school and the public. The large circulation of this issue of the paper, and the generous assistance of our advertisers, will enable us, also, to cancel the indebtedness of last year. The importance of the study of English in our high schools is more widely recognized than ever before. It is necessary in the teaching of English to adopt some definite system of in¬ struction, in order that the pupils may attain a reasonable degree of accuracy and fluency in the use of their native tongue. During the

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THE PIONEER 7 great improvement this year. The course now includes the most advanced requirements for ad¬ mission to the Institute of Technology, covering solid geometry and advanced algebra the last year for those that have taken mathematics the preceding years. In connection with this sub¬ ject may be mentioned the new method of teach¬ ing geometry. The pupil is obliged to prove all his theorems, instead of learning the proofs from a text book. Thus it becomes more than a mat¬ ter of memory only; the pupil must think for himself, and cannot demonstrate a proposition until he thoroughly understands it. This method has been tried with very good results in many places, and has given complete satisfaction in our school. This year the classes in drawing have aston¬ ished the school by their proficiency. The subject of projections was studied during the first part of the year, and the progress made in this rather difficult branch was surprising. But a greater surprise was occasioned the school when repre¬ sentation was taken up, and numerous works of art in brown and black crayon ornamented the walls of our temple of learning. The decorative work which followed was also good. We are glad to notice the many excellent drawings. This is a pleasant and, in many respects, a prac¬ tical study, and should be fully appreciated. The cover of this issue deserves special men¬ tion, the design being chosen from class work. It is a very’ fair specimen of Mr. James Alger’s drawing through the year. The artist should be warmly congratulated on his success. Oue of the essential elements of a good school is loyalty ; but perhaps there are pupils who do not know fully what is meant by this term. Certainly when a pupil says, “ 1 don’t care about the standard of the school ; I am as indifferent to my work and to my relations to the school as 1 dare to be,” that person is not loyal; he is selfish, unfaithful not only to his school, but to himself. There are many who realize the worth of a school and are anxious to make it as profitable to themselves as possible. These surely raise the standard of the school, but the down-pull of the selfish, unpatriotic pupils, who are negligent in the performance of their duties, may seriously affect the progress of the school. Pupils thus exert an influence, good or bad, upon the school. They co-operate with teachers in their efforts to maintain a high standard in the school, or they, by their unpatriotic conduct, are a hindrance to the progress and welfare of the school. Loyalty to school means loyalty to one’s higher self ; it demands not only the manifesta¬ tion of the spirit of a learner, but also willing obedience to all rules established for the good of the school, a firm adherence to the truth, and politeness of conduct in all the relations that pupils sustain to one another and to their teachers. PROPHECY. Once again I paused and wondered As I oft had done before. What my classmates then were doing Far upon the homeland shore, While in Paris I was wandering Through the Exposition buildings. Years had passed since we had severed Ties that bound us in our class-life, Yet my thoughts turned often backward To those dear old friends beloved. Through the long rooms slowly walking Soon this sign my eyes attracted : “ Futures told with great exactness By the well-known famous Seer.” In I went, in quest of knowledge Of the classmates who had parted One June evening in old Reading. When I passed within the portals Stood an aged man before me. When I told what I had come for, One keen look, then silent turning, Into a darkened room he led me.