Redford High School - Redford Yearbook (Detroit, MI)

Page 6 text:

1 l A ,

Page 5 text:

Responding' promptly to the new demands required of high schools by the national emergency, Redford quickly began to put into effect the many curricular changes that will transform the school to a total war basis. While most of the changes were designed to begin next semester, several actually began this term. Among them was the introduction into the mathematics department of Pre-Flight aero- nautics, which attracted enough students in its first year for the formation of two classes. Adapting the general outline for all Detroit high schools to Redford's particular needs, Principal William R. Stocking and Assistant Principal A. L. Hegener are shown plotting the many curriculum additions, substitutions, and subtractions on the huge class plan which charts the schedule of every organized activity at Redford. Beginning next semester all boys will he required to follow one of six pre-induction programs through the 11th and 12th grades. These courses of study are planned to fit boys for either future air service, arlny service, sea service, professional service, comlnercial service, or economic service. In all of these programs, mathematics, science or shop, and physical fitness or R.0.T.C. will be compul- sory throughout the 11th and 12th grades. All these revisions, however, take time to complete and the final result of Redford's streamlined curriculum cannot adequately he judged until all the plans have gone into operation. By next fall Code Practice, Touch Typing, Contemporary Affairs, Fundamentals of Machines, Electricity, Radio and Shop Wfork will probably have been substituted for English History, Physiology, Descriptive Chemistry, Descriptive and Applied Physics and Traffic Safety, which have been dropped for the duration. At present, however, with Aeronautics, First Aid, compulsory Physical Fitness Train- ing for seniors, and in addition the many student sponsored voluntary contributions and drives, the January Class leaves a school definitely '6Geared for War. 3

Page 7 text:

Never in all the time Pve been at Red ord have I seen this school co- , f 99 operate so completely as in the scrap drive. This statement made by Miss Menard, manager of our 1942 unforgettable scrap drive and referring to only one phase of the Husky war effort, might well describe the zeal with which Redford has carried out the many war projects of this semester. Heading the list, stands the school's achievement of oveL56 tons of scrap metal collected, the greatest amount assembled by any Detroit high school. On the opposite page are pictured only a few of the more publicized activi- ties that students have taken part in to further the progress of the war. In the top photo on the left is shown the bustling machine shop class for 12A's. This newly inaugurated industrial train- ing course met daily the last six weeks of the term from 4 to 7, especially for seniors. Slightly below and to the right is pictured one of the two new aeronautics classes, in this case studying the effect of air pressure on a plane in Hight. So popular were aero classes with prospective fliers that enough students have en- rolled to assure at least five next semester. At the extreme right a corps of camp cookers flaunt their skill in a class designed to give boys fundamental knowledge of cooking. Although 29 enrollees received interesting and valuable instruction, the experiment will not be continued next semester because of the increase in required subjects for pre-induction training. The first picture in the center row shows Audrey Book, an advanced Latin student, explaining the intricacies of Roman declension to a Latin C11 class. Audrey was one of many nstudent tcachcrsn who aided in the war-occasioned shortage of teacher substitutes, especially when regular instructors were handling gasoline rationing. Next, a familiar shot of our own man made mountainn of scrap, which will not soon be forgotten by the hundreds of Redford students who built it, of just about every derelict of metal you can think of. Miss Menard and a War Council Committee, and the Hi-Y clubs labored strenuously both Satur- days and weekdays for two weeks locating and hauling in the community's contributions. Bouquets go also to the Girl Reserves, who stood guard at the pile for two weeks. In the final picture of this row, a group of former gentle- men of leisure unlimber a few unused muscles as part of Uncle Sam's physical fitness campaign. Introduced this year for all 12A's and planned next year to include all boys and as many girls as willing, the program consists of calisthenics, commando training, and organized athletics. The bottom row of photographs starts out with a line of record room salesmen waiting, on a typical morning, to cash in Redford,s weekly orders for U. S. Savings stamps. Up to December 21, 11,069 dollars had gone through the school's turnstiles, 2,116 dollars of which were sold on December 7. In addition, partly through the school's efforts, over 56,850 dollars of bonds were sold at the Northwest Detroit War Coun- cil's rally on November 24 in the auditorium. Adjacent is a shot of 20-odd students who carried canisters for Student Council's collection for the War Chest. Paced by a 100-dollar donation from the Music Department, Redford organizations pledged 500 dollars. With the canister collec- tions and teachers, pledges, the school's contributions totaled over 2,200 dollars. And the last picture shows Mrs. Barron and Mr. Earl Smith hard at work filing a few of the 3,000 ration cards a com- mittee of 15 teachers processed during fuel rationing regis- tration. Part of an impressive patriotic assembly honoring American Education Week was the Victory tableau shown in the right hand photograph at the foot of this page. Education for Free Men was carried out in ceremony, pantomime, and speeches by collaboration of the dramatics, ROTC, social science, and music departments. Composed of a special committee selected by Miss Menard, co-ordinator, from Student Council members, the War Coun- cil directs student activities for the war effort and meets once a month for conference with an advisory board of faculty and parents. Pictured at the left below are Norman General, Harriet Stephens, Gwen Switze1', and George Rutenbar talking over War Council plans. A particular activity fostered by the Council is the Speakers' Bureau, whose members stand ready to serve whenever requested by talking on topics im- portant to the War. These pictures at best are only a sample of all that was accomplished during the past term. Both this semester and last, every club' and department in the school heartily pitched in and contributed to whatever projects it was able to help, by building model airplanes, for instance, knitting for the Red Cross, planting Victory gardens or learning First Aid. Not forgetting all-important .morale either, the OUTPOST pub- licized and explained-the war program besides printing a special edition on the wartime curriculum. Radio classes also spent many extra hours preparing programs explaining and encouraging the war effort. Every Redford student is automatically a member of the Junior Red Cross because of the school's hearty support of such drives as the seeds for Russia drive and kits for service- men campaign. Representatives of all the clubs carry on such business through the school's Junior Red Cross Council, headed by Miss Clark. Beyond student activities, Mr. Comer is in charge of all arrangements and equipment for aid raid and safety precau- tions. Another committee of faculty stands ready in case the school is used as a disaster center. Uver all organizations, student and faculty, Mr. Homer Clark is general director. During December, the War Council and Junior Red Cross, with the help of art students, began assembling a Schools at War scrap book which will report to the Federal Govern- ment what Redford has done and is doing in the war effort.