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

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SHORTHAND Shorthand is perhaps the most important of all commercial subject , although other subjects are important to the perfecting of skill in this study. Shorthand is a difficult subject because it demands a great deal of concentration and study. It requires the work of ear, mind, eye and hand simultaneously, and therefore the pupil must put much effort into the conquering of it. In acquiring this skill, it is first important that he learn how to read it. Therefore, in the beginning of the course, reading alone is done. By the time the student has become familiar with the forms anti outlines, he begins to write. This is taken up slowly in the beginning to assure accuracy. As new words and principles are learned, speed in writing is developed until the rate of 60 words per minute has been reached. This is usually the extent of the first year of shorthand. The second year consists mainly of taking up advanced principles and developing speed to at least 120 words per minute. Of course it is necessary that accuracy be maintained at the same time. To do this the students practice already familiar words and phrases as well as new ones. The proof of shorthand is in the transcription, so practice in that, too, is taken up. Business letters are the chief source of material for this phase of shorthand. Because of its great importance in the business world today, shorthand is stressed to a great extent, but once having learned, it will prove invaluable in all phases of activity. SENIOR ART The Senior Art Class, under the direction of Miss Day, is divided into two classes. In the first year class, the fundamentals of art are taken up. Figure drawing, composition and color schemes are studied. Chalk, ink, pencil, and water colors are the main mediums for the first year students. In both of these classes more emphasis is placed upon action than upon words, for the only test in art is the quality of the drawings. The second year class or advanced students are allowed more freedom in deciding what they wish to do and what materials to use. Ink washes, block prints, models in clay and soap, designs for stained glass windows, and several other interesting articles have been the fruit of this years work. Because of the freedom afforded the art students, their own personal ideas have been expressed in the work. Through the excellent guidance of Miss Day, art during the past year has been very successful, interesting and informative, and will become more so in future years. PROBLEMS OF DEMOCRACY With wars and rumors of wars in the daily headlines. the Problems of Democracy cla has been very interesting and beneficial to the vocational, general, ami academic seniors. With newspapers, periodicals, source books, and “Scholastic” American High School Weekly as texts, the students have studied and analy .ed current events, devices of propaganda, and problems that face a democracy such as ours. Supplementary to the regular P. 0. I), classes under the supervision of Mrs. Blew, Miss Ernest, and Mr. Keller, a course in “Cuidance” was taught by Mr. Schott. Here the pupils became better acquainted with themselves and others from a psychological point of view. Throughout the entire year, this class has proved most interesting. Throughout the entire lives of these students, the knowledge from this class should be put to use in building a better democracy. 8C MATHEMATICS In our math class we have been working on the practical application of elementary Mathematics to the common everyday problems in the arts, in the trades, in business matters, industrial activities and in manufacturing. Our activities give us a better understanding of facts and principals. Measuring, drawing, making models, constructing graphs, ruling and making out accounts and budgets help fit mathematics to everyday life. From wallpaper books we select and calculate the amount of wallpaper needed. Our class discusses and emphasizes the human value of thrift in buying, economy in time, and safety first suggestions, insurance, budgeting, good banking and worthy use of leisure time. We also make computations mentally, without the aid of paper and pencil.

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7B MATH The 7K Math class has had a most interesting year. The first month of school was spent in reviewing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division after which special attention was given to speed. The most enjoyable units were those on geometric patterns and graphs. Many of the students did work comparable to a sophomore student in geometry. Nearly every type of graph obtainable was on display. The unit on formulas was the most difficult for them to master. Each student, while working at bis own class level, was permitted to advance as rapidly as possible. By this method the more advanced students were not retarded by the slower ones. Thus each student was given the opportunity to accomplish as much as he could do. BIOLOGY Biology, a study of living things, shows us the way in which all organisms are related. In order to better understand the relationships, it has been necessary to dissect frogs, worms, fish and grasshoppers. Thus, we are better able to study the internal organs and their functions. Through Miss Hauke s profound interest in her subject, she has been able to extend a vast amount of her knowledge to the students. This subject is important to school students for it contains much everyday information which equips the student for his role as a citizen of our country. JUNIOR MECHANICS The Junior Mechanics is a national organization. Its purpose is to help boys use their leisure time, doing worth while things. The Junior Mechanics Club was organized two years ago by Mr. Oass, who felt that it would be a success. The Vocational boys become members automatically. Others who wish to become members must be voted in and must receive one hundred per cent of the member’s votes. A member or an officer may be impeached if the members feel that he is not doing his duty. The dues are seventy cents a year, which is used for parties, held four times a year. TYPING CLASS Typing has proved to be one of the most important subjects taken up by those students expecting to become a part of the business world after graduation. For that reason many phases of office work are introduced in the senior typing class. Daily class work consists mainly of budget work, that is, typing letters, forms, and straight copy in consecutive sections. Several forms of business letters and their uses are taught along with the general procedure of setting them up. In acquiring speed, regular speed tests are given. Although a minimum speed is required, accuracy is also a very important factor. It has been found that skill is useless without knowing other office routine, and so good secretarial traits are stressed along with posture, neatness and typing technique. [21 1

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JUNIOR HOME ARTS The Home Arts course that is offered in the school has a great many advantages. It gives every girl a chance to learn the essentials of cooking, sewing, budgeting and other helpful hints for homemaking. The girls learn more through the actual experience in the modernized home economics apartment than could possibly be learned through reading and discussion. VOCATIONAL GIRLS The Major Home Economics class has had a successful year. The girls carried out a program that they assembled in .September. The plans were made to provide enough variation in the work to meet the needs of each girl in the class. The program began with an analysis of recipes for party foods, which culminated in a tea. The group enjoyed planning, preparing and serving Christmas dinners in class. Then the girls started making their dresses, wool suits and coats and were proud of being able to wear them for the spring season. An especially interesting unit included a study of the social significance of housing, home improvement, house planning and management. The program was concluded with a home nursing project which proved to he very practical. It is felt that this year’s work in home economics has done much to help each girl to be a better member of her family and better prepared to take the responsibilities of a homemaker. 7C ENGLISH Seventh grade English furnishes the students with many experiences. The aim of this English is to furnish the child with as many and as great a variety of interests and contacts with things and people as is possible. This course does not only-present materials but it also embraces the need for the adjustment which every student needs before learning takes place. There is much need for guidance in expression and it is here that the skills and techniques are used. Many forms of expressions are used such as group discussions, informal speeches prepared speeches, debates, conversations, themes and all forms of written expressions. VOCATIONAL SHOP “A mechanic is born but he isn’t born a mechanic. He must be trained just the same as a lawyer or a doctor.” The Vocational Department offers a diversified course in industrail education, the aim being to pre-part those boys mechanically inclined to be better fitted to enter some trade of industry. With this in mind, the methods of instruction in the shop, in so far as possible, are those that would he emyployed in actual industrial situations and much of the work is done on a production basis. This year, the construction of fine furnitures has been emphasized, ns well as several production projects. [23]