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

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CIVICS A knowledge of the manner in which our own government is run is offered by one of the most stimulating studies offered to the commercial freshman. The civics teacher has led her civics classes into realms of knowledge which many adults have never explored. These ninth grade students learn all about the various divisions of the national government. The purpose and duties of each important member of the executive department, judicial department, and legislative department, are studied. Fire protection, safety, and community health are other factors studied. MUSIC A phase of school life which delights the majority of students is music. Miss Bakers 7th and 8th grade classes have enjoyed several hours each week in studying music. This time has been profitably spent, learning how to read notes, ringing folk songs and other songs, and listening to a victrola and radio. So outstanding is the work done by the music classes that a special account of them, entitled “What We Do in Music,” has been placed on page 23. HEALTH SCIENCE The eighth grade Health Science class has covered two large factors of study this year. During the first half of the school year, the students took up the study of human body. Care of the eyes, teeth, and general health came in with this, as well as the respiratory system and circulatory system. Community health was covered by the class during the last semester. Experiments ami references aided this group, under the instruction of Mrs. Butz, to acquire some of the most vital knowledge of their school careers. ART Under Miss Day’s expert supervision and helpful criticism, the art groups have progressed rapidly this year. They have been instructed in practical work and in just sketching for pleasure. Pile art of lettering neatly and attractively has been mastered by these junior high students. Colorful flower sketches were made and hung in the cafeteria. The art room was a panorama of color all year, due to the untiring effort and enthusiasm displayed by the art students. [21]

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ENGLISH During the first school semester, the Junior Academic English class studied American literature. With first a brief background of English literature, they took up extensively the growth of American literature from Colonial times to the present day. Supplementary work was done in grammar, themes, hook reports, and oral talks. The second semester members of the class made a mural depicting the development of American drama. BIOLOGY Biology, a study of living things, shows us the way in which all organisms are related. Frogs, fishes, grasshoppers and worms are dissected in order to see their internal structure so that their functions may be better understood. Sometimes organs from the higher animals are brought into class because they more closely resemble our own. One of the very interesting units in biology is the one dealing with reproduction. Besides the work with laboratory specimens, research is done on the relation of organisms to one another and to their environments. Biology probably fits the present living needs of the students as well as any other subject in the curriculum because it comes closer to our immediate interests. AMERICAN HISTORY Democracy dominates in the American History class in the discussions in which everyone takes part. This year Miss Trader has made an interesting subject of history by having panel discussions, debates, and dramatizations presented by the class. Everyone in the class feels that much has been learned about American History and also about many interesting sidelights of other countries. GEOMETRY Geometry is a very beneficial as well as an interesting subject. In this course every student has an opportunity in which to express himself and bring out his own ideas. The student is instructed when help is needed, but in every phase of the subject the pupils ideas are first expressed. If a solution cannot be found by the student he is aided by his classmates. If still the problem cannot be solved the instructor stimulates the minds of the class—not, however, stating the full solution. In later years geometry will be of value to the pupil, as many occupations are centered around it and in every phase of academic work at some time it is needed. It is also beneficial by encouraging the student to look at all sides of a problem instead of only one, thus broadening his mind. He also can come to realize there is not just one solution to every problem, but perhaps many. [20]

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SAFETY Richard Montgomery High School is the only school in Montgomery County where a course in traffic and automobile driving is given. This course is given under the direction of Mrs. Paul Butz who has been especially trained for this work at the University of Maryland. The school has been given the use of a new dual control Pontiac automobile for the work by the American Automobile Association. By means of the dual control car pupils get actual instruction in driving similar to that given in aviation where a cadet und instructor both control the plane. In addition to the traffic course, safety instruction is given by means of school boy patrol, posters, use of visual aid, safety assemblies, and protection for children to and from school by safety guards. Many communications are received by the school asking for a copy of its safety program. LIBRARY SCIENCE A library should be the center of the educational life of the school. To help make the Richard Montgomery such, a center of instruction is given by Mrs. Mills, librarian, so that the pupils may find material readily and effectively. Topics which are given special attention are: library regulations, classification and arrangement of books, the use of the card catalog, dictionaries, reference books, periodicals, and periodical indexes. Throughout tin course an attempt is made to cultivate a taste for good books ami magazines and to develop a love of reading. One of the two decorative wall panels in the library painted directly on the plaster in water-color paint is nearing completion. The designs, planned and executed by two twelfth grade girl . Althea Karn and Dorothy Bohannon, represent the work of a year in the advanced art class. Depicting an arrangement of beloved characters in fiction, old and new, they rise above the heads of two senior high students bent over a book. All of the sketches for the figures in the panel were drawn from life, many anonymous students voluntarily posing for them. Aside front its practical value and the interest it aroused, the work has developed a keen appreciation in two girls’ minds of the difficulties of mural painting. SEVENTH GRADE—7A AND 7C These two sections of the 7th grade meet in Room 29. For the first term they met as one class for several hours each day. Social Studies, Literature, Grammar, and Art were taught as one subject instead of as separate ones. These pupils have been brought together from many schools outside of Rockville. They have attempted to work on several things besides actual subjects. Friendliness, courtesy, and neatness have been some of their aims. They feel that some accomplishment has been made in these things. [22]