Redondo Union High School - Pilot Yearbook (Redondo Beach, CA)

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THE PILOT those habits of thought and action which make these powers effective in the life of the individual. In order to carry out these purposes, five subjects are offered. They are: elemen- tary algebra, plane geometry, advanced algebra, solid geometry, and trigonometry. One year of mathematics is required of all students for graduation except commercial students, who take bookkeeping. All students going to college must take elementary algebra and plane geometry. Four years of mathematics are required of all engineer- ing and scientific students. If the student who omits the mathematical courses has need of them later, it is invariably more difficult, and it is frequently impossible, for him to obtain the train- ing in which he is deficient. Mathematics cannot be gained from reading but requires systematic work under a competent teacher to master properly the technique of the subject, and any break in the continuity is a handicap for which increased maturity rarely compensates. SCIENCE DEPARTMENT Each student in this high school has a choice of five science subjects. The part of science to be studied in each subject is graded to meet the needs of the students in each year of the high school curriculum. Science subjects are thought provoking and contribute to the thought creating attitudes of pupils. This age has been called the scientific age. Workers in industry, commerce, and the professions must possess an understanding of the appliances resulting from scientific knowledge. Inventions call for new understanding on the part of all who use them. The science subjects endeavor to meet the modern demand for science knowledge. The courses are so full of requirements that the cultural side of science study is too often curtailed. The training of the individual student for his part as a member of the community is within the scope and aim of science teaching. THE FOREIGN LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT R. U. H. S. offers courses in French, Latin, and Spanish for pupils who have in mind a college education especially. These courses are exceptionally good to train pupils in the discipline of logical thinking; to leave in their minds an enlightened appreciation of the merits of their native language ; to develop in them a practical and tolerant sense of justice towards other nations through better knowledge of their cul- ture and spirit. Foreign Lanugages are not considered as subjects claiming the privilege of directly teaching the student to make a living; but they certainly must be accepted among branches of learning which enrich the lives of students with substantial con- tributions; enabling them to approach in sympathetic understanding millions of human beings, who without the assistance of a common language would have been ignored; whose valuable teachings of high and solid culture would have been lost for them. The man or woman adequately trained in Foreign Lanugages, possesses an asset which the commercial, social, and political world will not easily overlook. COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT The aim of the commercial department of R. U. H. S. is to prepare a student to entfr the held of business in the capacity of a bookkeeper or prepare a foundation which will enable him to take up a secretarial course. Both these cources include a year of Junior Business Training and the student learns what qualities and prepara- [20]

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THE PILOT ENGLISH IN THE HIGH SCHOOL The four general aims in the English training of high school students are: To give the pupil command of the fundamentals of language, reading, spelling, pronunciation, enunciation, and correct usage. The ability to use the English language with grammatical correctness gives self- confidence from the realization that effective expression depends largely upon correct expression. Correct pronunciation and clear enunciation are as important in speech as harmony is in music : To develop in the pupil the power to converse easily, agreeably, and effectively in private conversation or on more formal occasions, and to teach him to organize material and impart his message clearly, directly, and honestly to others; To develop in the pupil the ability to use written language forcefully and accu- rately, and to give him opportunity and encouragement for self-expression and for creative work ; And last, to develop in the pupil the ability, disposition, and habit of abundant, diversified, and intelligent reading as a means of enjoyable and beneficial indirect observation of men, things, and affairs, And to develop in the pupil the ability to share vicaciously the varied experiences and emotions of others, and to create in him a desire to live a finer, a more beautiful, and a more spiritual life. PURPOSE AND AIMS OF THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT It has been said that History is to civilization what memory is to the individual. Without memory, a person ' s ability to lead a normal and useful life is impossible. So also without a knowledge and appreciation of History a civilization cannot undertsand its place in the world or make an intelligent contribution to the sum total of world civilization. Knowledge of the past is essential if nations or individuals are to under- stand what the social, economic, political or intellectual life about them means. History not only explains to us the forces which make our civilization what it is, but it develops an ability to think in world terms, thus enabling us to get away from narrow, prejudiced thinking. And what is more necessary in this day of close commu- nication, when wars are not yet banished from the earth, than that all of us should attain a broader, more world-wide outlook, and realize that all nations can contribute something to our common life? Also, a critical study of the great characters and great movements of History cannot fail to mold character and help us appreciate the moral values that are basic in life. Finally, an appreciation of the ideals of American democracy must be a part of the training of every high school student, if they are to become intelligent citizens. However, such training will have failed unless it causes pupils to be anxious not only to preserve our heritage from the past, but also to help right the wrongs about us, and leave our country greater, better, and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us. These aims the History Department holds before it ,and strives ever to attain. MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT The primary purposes for the teaching of mathematics should be to develop powers of understanding competent in analyzing those relations of quantity and space which are necessary for an insight into and a control over our environment, to form an appreciation of the progress of civilization in its various aspects, and to develop [19 I

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THE PILOT tion are necessary to fit him for different positions in the different lines of business. Two years of Typing prepare the secretarial student for the position of typist. He should be able to write at the rate of sixty words a minute. Today the use of the typewriter is almost universal, therefore it is an advantage for every high school studen t to know how to type. During the two years of Shorthand work the student learns to take dictation at the rate of 100 to 125 words a minute and then transcribe her notes neatly and accurately. Together with one-half year of Business English, it enables her to write good business letters. Business English is simply learning to use good English. One year of Bookkeeping prepares the stenographer to keep a simple set of books, all she would be required to do in a small office as a private secretary. Commercial Law, one semester the Senior year, is a very practical subject. Every citizen should be familiar with the most important laws of the State in which he lives. Many mistakes are made and much money is often lost through ignorance of the laws of our land. For the Bookkeeping course only one year of Typing is required and no Shorthand. At the end of the first year the student writes about 40 words per minute which is all he will need in an office as a bookkeeper. Two years of Bookkeeping teach the student the fundamental principles of accounting, give him a great deal of actual practice work, training him to think through a business transaction before recording it neatly and accurately in his set of books. He gets some practical experience by working in the cafeteria as checker and cashier. Commercial Law and Business English are also required subjects for the Book- keeping students. After completing this course they should be able to go out and take a position as bookkeeper, starting, of course, in a small business using a simple set of books. But if they do not wish to be bookkeepers themselves they will have learned many things about business which every business man or woman needs to know. THE HOME ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT The Home Economics Department with its cources in Foods, Clothing, Dietetics, and Household Management, seeks to acquaint the girls with the economic and artis- tic aspects of the home with its possibility as a center of happy home life. Emphasis is placed upon the choice and preparation of simple foods needed by the body, the keeping of the family in abounding health, the construction of every day clothing with repairs and care, the knowledge of fabrics, welfare of children, the use of the income and wise shopping, the spending of leisure time, and beautifying the home. THE MANUAL ARTS DEPARTMENT The courses in the Manual Arts Department are designed to give to the student a broader vision of the field of industry, and thereby better educational and vocational information; to train him to do unspecialized activities about the home, shop or garage; to give technical instruction and general knowledge which will be of use to nim in life, or a higher institution; to aid in the choice of a life work; and to instill in him that spirit of cooperation which is so necessary to good ctizenship in a demo- cratic society. The department at present offers courses in woodworking, auto-mechanics, ma- chine shop, printing, and mechanical drawing, while present plans include, among other things, aeronautics, electricity, sheet-metal and welding. These, however, can- not be undertaken in our present plant. [21]