Richard Montgomery High School - Rocket Yearbook (Rockville, MD)

Page 24 text:

ART Any school which regards art and music as frills” and therefore omits them from its curriculum is depriving its students not only of a cultural back- ground but is denying them the all- round education which progressive schools emphasize. 1 he art classes at Richard Montgomery have been particu- larly successful and are regarded as one of the main stays of the school. Place cards for faculty dinners, scenery for school plays, posters for field day are just a few of the practical ways in which they work with other departments in the school. LIBRARY SCIENCE The nine-weeks course in library science is primarily training in self help. Topics which get special attention are the physical make-up, printed parts, classification, and arrangement of books in the library. Lessons are given in the use of the card catalog, dictionaries, reference books, periodicals and periodi- cal indexes, and in bibliography making. Throughout the course an attempt is made to build up literary appreciation. PUBLIC SPEAKING The primary objectives of public speaking are learning to express one’s thoughts with clearness and precision, and developing an appreciation of the speaker-audience situation. The course has been organized to give experience not only in speech making, but in parliamentary procedure and oral reading. The last week of class each student has an opportunity to present a talk over the loudspeaker in the auditorium. This lays particular stress on enunciation. Though the class will not, in all probability, yield any silver tongued orators, each student will have, un- doubtedly, more confidence and skill in expressing his thoughts clearly to a person or a group. READING In the ability to read lies the secret of success. Without the ability to read a person has a severe handicap to over- come. This class teaches the pupils to read more efficiently, stressing the im- portance of speed and comprehension. Charts are kept by the pupils and twice a week tests are given. These tests are used to show the progress in speed and comprehension. The end of the course shows a remarkable improvement. [20]

Page 23 text:

THE JOURNALISM CLASS The newest improvement to the Richard Montgomery curriculum, and one of the first of its kind in any Montgomery County School, is the addition of the study of journalism. The class is open to Seniors only and is under the direction of Miss Sherwood. Not only has the class published the SUNSHINE AND SHADOWS, THE TIDE, and the ROCKET, but it has made a thorough study of magazine and newspaper work. Opportunity has been given each member of the class to work on the school newspaper, the magazine and the yearbook. In no other class is there such an opportunity for initiative and individuality. In addition to the study of an excellent textbook on journalism, the class, with each Editor-in-Chief as leader, discusses and criticizes in detail the current issues of the school publications. The objective of the members is to attain, each month, a higher degree of excellence in the art of journalism. Because of the splendid work done by the publications staffs, they can claim membership in the George Washington Scholastic Press Association and have received a charter for membership in the Quill and Scroll, the highest inter- national honorary society for high school journalists. I 191

Page 25 text:

— EXPLORATORY LANGUAGES The nine weeks exploratory language course attempts to teach young pupils to appreciate the difference in nationali- ties. languages and environment: to develop a sympathetic understanding of foreign peoples in order to absorb some- thing of the culture of other lands: and to aid those planning a more extensive language training to make a more in- telligent choice of the language or lang uages they may wish to study. To accomplish these ends the pupil is given a cursory acquaintance with the art. music, literature, outstanding facts in historical and geographical develop ment. the customs, and the languages of Italy and France. MUSIC The music classes are under the direc tion of Miss Miriam Rhoades. During the year, the students have taken up the study of folk music, light opera, the fun damentals of music, and the symphony orchestras. Of the latter they have learned to recognize all of the instru- ments by sight, sound and section. Over half of the class time has been spent in enjoyable part singing of light classica' music and song appropriate to th- season. HEALTH SCIENCE The Health Science classes study per sonal health during the first semester. Through this study they become well informed about the human body and its workings, with particular reference to the needs of daily living. In the latter half of the school year they study health in the home and community. The students make their own observ- ations, carry through a piece of work by themselves, and reach their own con- clusions. GENERAL MATHEMATICS The mathematics taught in the ninth grade is of a general algebraic nature. Just those algebraic principles that are useful in everyday mathematics are studied. The study of these principles shows the logic of mathematics and its usefulness in certain situations. The study of math develops many abilities. Those that are stressed in general mathematics are: (1) Reading for understanding. (2) Fundamental processes, (3) Understand- ing and use of mathematical termin ology, (4) Drawing logical conclusions .and then making reasonable estimations. [21]