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

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ENGLISH The ninth grade English class has been studying short stories, ballads, poetry, and grammar. An important part of the class work consists of mak- ing oral talks, which give valuable training in public speaking. As a special project the members of this group have been studying some of Shakespeare’s works and are planning a trip to the Folger Library in Washing- ton. CIVICS The Civics Club is a new experiment being introduced into county schools by the Civics Research Institute in Washington. There are only two or three schools using this new plan and Richard Montgomery has the honor of being one of these. This club has officers who conduct its business and a Constitution drawn up by its members. Parliamentary procedure is followed very strictly in this club. Instead of reading books to find out how the town business is carried on this club actually goes out and finds out for itself. It has interviewed several prominent citizens and has had several community leaders speak at its meetings. Each club member is responsible for presenting one project to the club. The projects are sent by the Civics Research Institute and are worked upon by com- mittees. JUNIOR BUSINESS The class in Junior Business is for the purpose of giving students a work- ing knowledge of the most used busi- ness papers or forms, how to use them and the purpose of each; the different forms of business organizations; and to give the students an introduction to office routine. Some of the forms stud- ied are: checks, drafts, telegrams, pur- chase orders and sales schedules. BIOLOGY The biology class furnishes an in- teresting study of things that will be of real value in living—things that can be applied to daily life, d ime is spent in careful drawing of different organisms. In order to gain actual facts on which to base opinions, the class experiments. Because biology is a study of living things, both animals and plant life are studied. The association of plants and animals is found through such a study. In connection with living things, a knowledge of disease is gained. [22]

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— 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]

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ENGLISH Sophomore English under the guid- ance of Mr. Williams prospers as the year develops. Their lessons include chiefly writing compositions and themes and reading. They also dramatize dif- ferent plays, some of which are given before assemblies. Their presentation of '‘Everyman” at the Christmas as- sembly was one of the most delightful of the year's programs. Grammar is an important project of this English class. The pupils learn some item in grammar, after which they make use of it in their writing. This gives the pupils the correct use of the language as a whole. AMERICAN HISTORY Our present social trends, our ideals, and our political institutions are the products of a long development. Amer- ica in the Making” is truly a thrilling topic for study. The American history students learn the background of our present Ameri- can civilization and gain an understand- ing of both its weaknesses and its strengths. They, as American citizens, learn of our past that they may build more wisely for the future. BOOKKEEPING The one year course in bookkeeping at Richard Montgomery High School is taught with the idea of giving the stu- dents knowledge of the best ways to keep records that they need, such as: check stubs, budgets, household ac- counts, and an elementary set of books. It is not taught with the idea of mak- ing bookkeepers out of the students, but with the idea of giving to them infor- mation that they can use in their own record keeping. PROBLEMS OF DEMOCRACY It is never possible for anyone to know everything that is taking place in the world today. But it is possible for one to have some knowledge of many things. That is the reason for a Prob- lems of Democracy class—to enable the students to have an idea of the current events of the day. This course is not compulsory, but it is most practical in that it teaches a student to gaze with unbiased eyes upon the world of today. One of the chief objectives of the course is to have pupils form atti- tudes, ideals and habits of thinking that will cause them to be open minded, critical in their thinking, and tolerant of the views of others. [23]