Richford High School - Searchlight Yearbook (Richford, VT)

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Z8 R. H. S. SEARCHLIGHT Certain studies are required of all pupils. Aside from these, pupils are given considerable freedom of choice among studies called electives All students who expect to enter college must take those electives which are preced- ed by an asterisk CU in the table below ex- cept that for some college courses, Latin is not required, although it is highly desirable. Either two years of Latin or two years of French are essential, however, for college entrance. Prospective college studen-ts must also take at least one of the following: His- tory IV, History V, American History and Civics. Students who plan to take a complete Commerical course must take all studies pre- ceded by the dagger CTD. Algebra is required of all members of Class 3, unless excused by the principal. COURSES OF STUDIES BY YEARS Class 1 Required Studies English and Literature ...... 5 Mathematics .................... .. 5 History-Geography .................. 5 Home Economics or Agriculture ...... 2 Penmanship .........................' 3 Chorus Singing .... ............ . . 1 Gymnasium ........ 1 Class 2 Required Studies English and Literature ..... 5 Mathematics .................. .. 5 History-Geography .............. .. 5 Home Economics or Agriculture ...... 2 Physiology and Physiography ..... . .. 3 Chorus Singing .................. 1 Gymnasium ................... .. 1 Class 3 Required Studies English ............... .. 5 Social Science . . . 5 Algebra ...... . . . 5 Electives 'Latin III .......... .. . 5 1'Penmanship ......... . . . 3 Home Economics .... 3 Agriculture ....... .. 3 French Q31 . ..... 5 General Science . . . . . . 3 Chorus Singing .... . . . 1 Gymnasium ....... .. 1 Class 4 Required Studies English ............... .. 5 Electives 'History IV 5 'Geometry .. 5 'Caesar ........... .. 5 'French IV ........ .. 5 Home Economics ...... .. 3 Agriculture ............. .. 3 'l'Commercial Arithmetic .. . . . 5 Chorus Singing ......... .. 1 Gymna ium ........... . . 1 Class 5 Required Studies English ............... .. 5 Electives 'History V ............. . 5 'Physics or Chemistry . .. .. 5 French V .............. .. 5 Cicero ................ .. 5 Home Economics ..... . . . 3 Agriculture ...... . . . 3 'lBookkeeping I . .. .. 5 'lTypewriting I .. 5 iStenography I .. 5 Chorus Singing .. 1 Gymnasium ........... .. 1 Class 6 Required Studies English ...................... .. 5 Electives 'American History and Civics ..... .. 5 French ........................ .. 5 Virgil ....................... .. 5 'Senior Mathematics .. 5 'Physics or Chemistry .. 5 Home Economics ...... .. 3 Agriculture ......... . .. . . . . . 3 i'Typewriting II ............... ....... 5 'lStenography II ..................... 5 iCommercial Law, Geography and English .................. ............ 5 'l'Bookkeeping II .................. .. 5 Gymnasium ...... .. l Chorus Singing ........... .. 1 The figures in columns indicate the number of recitations per week. By special arrangement it is often possible to take elective subjects in years other than those in which they are indicated above.

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. R. H. S. SEARCHLIGHT 21 JUNIOR STUDY HALL On the third or attic floor is a gym- nasium with one of the largest and best basket-ball fioors in the state and a large amount of storage space. At the same time that the school was moved to the new building, the curriculum was thoroughly reorganized. It became a junior-senior high school-a type which is rapidly becoming popular all over the United States, and which, thus far, has proved remarkably successful in Richford. The old courses and individual studies were closely scrutinized and so reorganized as to square with modern requirements and mod- ern educational ideas. Work in practical agriculture and shop work was introduced for the boys, cooking, sewing and household arts for the girls. These studies, like commerical work, have proved very successful. Nevertheless, col- lege preparatory work has not been neg- lectedg in fact, this depart nent is stronger than ever before. Provision is made for every type of pupil. The Richford school system now con- sists of six elementary grades followed by six years in the junior-senior high school. The first four of these six years are spent in the junior high school, the last two in the senior high school. This brings the change from grades to high school-from one- teacher conditions to departmental teach. ing-two years earlier than heretofore, and therefore at a time when the mental and physical development of the child are at such a stage as to make the change less vio- lent. The new organization also greatly re- duces the tendency of pupils to drop their work at the end of the eighth year. Modern industrial conditions are rapidly increasing the necessity of a complete high school education. The avowed aim of this school is to do all it can to prepare its pupils to be upright, useful members of society, to follow the line of activity for which they are best suited and to realize the best values in life. COURSES OF STUDY No attempt is made to divide the curri- culum into tight compartments, calling one the Latin course, another the Agricultural course, and so on. On the contrary, it is our purpose to leave the pupil as unhampered as possible throughout the entire junior high school. But, by the time he enters the senior high school, he should have decided definitely on the line of work he wishes to follow for the rest of his high school course.

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R. H. S. SEARCHLIGHT 29 THE CHOICE OF STUDIES Parents and teachers should consider the selection of a course or the choice of electives very carefully. In cases where any doubt exists, the advice of teachers should be sought and given careful consid- eration. From the very beginning of the junior high school, every possible opportunity is given the pupil to find out his own apti- tudes through the medium of exploratory electives. Whenever it becomes evident that a pupil has made a mistake in the choice of studies, an attempt will be made to remedy the difficulty. By the time the pupil reaches the senior high school, he should know whether he wishes to go to college, and if so he should proceed to elect the proper studies for his remaining two years. If he does not wish to go to college, his four years of junior high school 'work should have so revealed his ap- titudes as to make it comparatively easy to see what sort of work he ought to do in the senior high school. A word of warning is not out of place at this point. No pupil should choose the complete commerical course without very careful thought. Usually an over-large pro- portion of students select this work through a hastily formed opinion that it is of the greatest immediate value toward gaining a livelihood. This is no doubt the correct view for some pupils, but for others there are other at least equally important values in high school education to be considered. There are as many misfits in commercial work as in other lines. It is also true that the most succ.ssful conimercial graduit s have built up their commercial training on a sound basis of liberal, cultural studies. SUMMARY OF DEPARTMENTS Mathematics Mathematics is required in the first three years. . In Class 1, decimals and common frac- tions are reviewed, percentage and int.rcst are studied. Short methods, personal ac- counts and practical problems are emphasi- zed. In the latter part of the year, intui- tional geometry of form and size is intro- duced. This is because such elementary geometry is of great interest to the pupils of this age, because it enables them to de- termine whether they have an aptitude for the subject, and because it makes future study of formal geometry much easier. In Class 2, the work of Class 1 is re- viewed, and the arithmetic of various com- mon trades and kinds of business is taken up. Throughout these two years, the various phases of interest and percentage are con- stantly emphasized. Th: fundamental op- erations are kept fresh through use. During this year, simple elementary algebra is in- trodouced for the same reasons as geometry in Class 1. Simple algebraic formulae are also freely used in connection with the arithmetic, because of their practical value. In Class 3, the usual elementary algebra through quadratics is studied: in Class 4, plane geometry. The so-called senior mathematics is open topupils in Class 6 who have studied algebra and geometry. It consists of a re- view of elementary algebra, the study of intermediate algebra and a review of plane geometry. Solid geometry will be-provid- ed for pupils who require it. Senior mathe- matics is required of pupils who plan ,to go to college and the entire content of the course is shaped with that end in view. History The history course follows the Manual and Courses of Study, Part III, issued by the State Board of Education. Q -. During the first two years' of- junior high school, History-Geography is compul- sory. The two subjects are closely related and the work in geography accompanies the work in history as far as possible. The his- ory work of Class 1 deals with thc events of the world and especially of European history, which led up to the discovery of America, and thus forms a background for United States history. The discovery, colon- ization and early history of America is studied in the latter part of Class 1. The work of Class 2 consists of later United