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

Page 19 text:

Seated, left to right: Claud- ette Hall6, Arthur L. Spon- cer, chairman, Helen M. Hart. Standing: Elisabeth A. Dag- digian, Gerard C. Vincent, Edward W. Roewar, Rose E. Chiesa. FOREIGN LANGUAGES An important part of the curriculum of a student who desires a liberal education is the study of a foreign lan- guage. Whether he takes Latin, French, or Spanish, the first year student devotes a great deal of time to learning vocabularies, coniugations, and declensions. However, the advanced language student finds all this work has been well worth the effort when he discovers the exciting ad- ventures of a Mexican iumping bean in El Frijolito Salton, when he scans Vergil's Aeneid for the first time, or when he learns of modern French life and times in Topaze and Le Silence de la Mer. Something of the culture, geography, and history of the country and its people is presented to make the study of a foreign language more interesting and to help the student understand how the language he is studying developed and why the characters in the litera- ture he is reading act and react as they do. Amo, amas, amat-even in Latin IV? 2

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1-jf V3 Seated, left to right: Clarissa B. Abbott, .lane R. Cutclitfe, chairman, Rachel Alden, Elis- abeth A. Dagdigian. Stand- ing: Dorothy M. Austin, Ger- bridge, Wendell W. Hodg- old E. Bond, Helen M. Hart. ENGLISH To acquire a ready command of our spoken and written language is the main objective of the English courses. Throughout our high school years, many wonderful realms of literature have been opened to us through the thought- ful and concise analysis of some of the world's greatest literature. No one will ever forget the dark, gloomy mys- tery of Great Expectations, the masterful orations of Julius Caesar, the stirring account of the French Revolution in A Tale of Two Cities, or the fascination of the complex char- acter study of Macbeth. Before a person can expect to experience the satisfaction which comes from fluency in his written language, he must first learn how to apply skill- fully the rules of syntax in composition and everyday speech. Because of the many interesting phases of litera- ture and grammar offered in English, every student goes forth to college or business with the knowledge he is better capable of dealing with all types of people. Macbeth doth sleep no more. ard C. Vincent, Sally Stem- kins, Jeannette T. Bell, Har-

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fd: .g 25. K fi w .mf ., QE A: --I.. ., 5 1 4 at .X P.. Z, , , ' left to right: Ernestine H. Mac- donald, library, James L. Roth, music, Geraldine F. Roy, art. . f ' 5 FINE ARTS The music, art, and literature programs of- fered at RHS add a polish to our busy school schedules. Our library is well supplied with books to meet everyone's taste in reading and also has an excellent selection of reference ma- terial and periodicals. Mrs. Macdonald, who is always cheerfully at hand to help students make their choices, instructs the freshmen each year in the use of the library. Frequent rehearsals and performances of band, orchestra, and chor- us, conducted by Mr. Oliver and Mr. Roth, give those gifted in such areas a chance to develop and display their talents. The art classes offer creative activities that enable the student to de- velop skills in handling a variety of media and i ,g gitgh 2 A T 7' in X X A f an -, ,gy 44 Creative ideas transformed into design and color. in addition instill an understanding and appre- ciation for all art forms. Our fine teachers and complete facilities in the Fine Arts Department make our school a richer institution. K. Q... i1 A Maybe we'Il find the answer to the 864,000 question. Another Harry James?