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

Page 16 text:

Seated: Gale M. Webber, James M. Aldrich, chairman; Edwina M. Donohoe. Standing: Robert H. Dunbar, Willis E. Anderson. HISTORY DEPARTMENT With each hour of the day, there are more prob¬ lems facing the world and the United States govern¬ ment. At Reading Memorial High School, students are offered various history courses which are pat¬ terned to prepare them for our changing world. Geography and American government are considered in Civics; the earliest achievements and the progress of civilization, in Ancient History; the expansion and development of our country, in United States His¬ tory; and social problems and basic economics, in Problems of Democracy. These courses are designed to prepare pupils to accept responsibilities and to be¬ come conscientious citizens. They enable students to pioneer their way into the future with a new concept of the opportunities which await them. 12 Seniors in Mr. Webber’s History class are caught off guard.

Page 15 text:

Seated: Elizabeth A. Dag- digian, Richard B. Ham, Helen M. Hart. Standing: Joseph Nisco, Arthur L. Spencer, chairman, Alex¬ ander Boch. FOREIGN LANGUAGE Reading Memorial High School’s extensive for¬ eign language program offers students the opportunity for studying as many as four years of Latin or French and three years of Spanish. The pupils who take these courses find that the rewards of being able to understand a new language are well worth the necessary work. Al¬ though the rules of grammar and pronunciation some¬ times seem monotonous and wearisome, students soon realize that a basic knowledge of such elementaries as conjugations, declensi ons, and vocabularies must be acquired before an interesting discussion of the litera¬ ture of a foreign country can begin. Through the study of this literature, students are able to learn much about the culture and philosophy of the people of the world, and they are able to discover the similarities of thought of all mankind despite the language barriers which sepa¬ rate individuals. The French three-four class with Mr. Ham works on translation. 11

Page 17 text:

Seated: Elinor Ravesi, Frederick J. Pope, chairman; Helen R. Zimmermann. Standing: Rolfe T. Banister, James T. Murphy, David L. Garland, Jerome M. Pierianowicz, Robert Miksen. SCIENCE DEPARTMENT The Science Department of Reading Memorial High School offers many diverse and interesting courses for its students to explore. As an introduc¬ tion to the scientific world, general science is of¬ fered to the freshmen. Here the student acquires a broad background of knowledge which not only prepares him for more advanced studies but also introduces him to various scientific careers. Dis¬ sections and class projects predominate the curricu¬ lum for sophomores in biology classes. Later dur¬ ing this study students are able to create and de¬ velop their own projects to be entered for judging in the science fair. Equally important to the learn¬ ing acquired in biology is that gained from chem¬ istry, the study of the basic elements, and from physics, the study of the laws of the universe and their applications. An excellent course in anatomy is also offered for senior girls interested in nurs¬ ing. Each person who successfully completes this science program has been well prepared for the more advanced college courses by experience in the laboratories, by informative lectures and films, and above all by capable teachers. Bob Murray, Doug Mader and Jeff Ahlin prepare for Chem¬ istry experiments with Mr. Banister. 13