Richford High School - Searchlight Yearbook (Richford, VT)

Page 33 text:

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

Page 32 text:

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.

Page 34 text:

30 R. H. S. SEARCHLIGHT States history. A short course in commerical geography will complete the work for Class 2. History 3 may properly be called social science. In this course the student is taught to consider his relation to the social, indus- trial and political lift of the community. Local government, the management and financing of public institutions and taxa- tion are some of the topics considered. History 4, History 5, and American His- tory and Civics for Classes 4, 5 and 6 are elective, except that at least one of them must be presented for college entrance. History 4 covers Oriental, Greek, Ro- man and Medieval European history up to about 1700. It is a survey of the civiliza- tions of the ancient world and the contribu- tions of each to European society. 'Ihe growth of civilization is traced through the great institutions of the Middle Ages to the beginning of national state and to the three movements of modern times, awakening of interest in intellectual, artistic and scienti- fic matters, and political liberty. Thus is the stage set for the drama of modern his- tory. History 5 is a continuation of History 4, from 1700 to the present time. The pres- ent generation is involved in a struggle for three things: QD International Federation: C21 Industrial Democracyg C35 Cultural Democracy. The aims of this course are: f1DTo emphasize continuityg 121 To make history study interesting: Q31 To give. train- ing in the weighing of evidence and the formation of judgments. American History for Class 6 stresses political ten.dencies and national develop- ment. About one-half of the year is devot- ed to the study of American problems. Cur- rent events are studied with a standard magazine for a basis. Outline maps are used in all history courses. English English is required every year. The general aim of this department is to train pupils to speak and write correctly, express their ideas easily, clearly and force- fully, and to appreciate good literature. Much attention is paid to oral English, in order that they may learn to think on their feet and speak before people without em- barrassment. Work in spelling is required almost every day throughout the six years. Training in reading is given QD through having pupils read aloud in class, Q21 through outsde reading and Q33 aurally,- i. e., by means of the teacher ieading aloud to the class. At the same time, the read ng is so selected as to give some freedom to in- dividual tastes and to gradually raise the pupil's literary standards. A considerab'e amount of outside reading is assigned throughout the course. Special attention is paid to the development of the dramatic ability of the pupils by presenting criginal in class and by staging dramatizations plays: to voice control and culture with actual practice prize speaking in public speaking and in contests. A reading table, provided with books, newspapers and mag- azines, furnishes material for oral and written compositions, debates, etc. Wc rk in journalism will be introduced to a cer- tain degree in all English courses. Credit in composition is given to all pupils con- tributing to the 'iSearchlight. Composition both oral and written, rhetoric, the history of English and American literature and such formal grammar as is necessary are in- cluded. All college entrance requiremen's are amply met in this as in other depart- ments. Civil Government This course covers the origin, develop- ment and present customs of the machinery of government in town, county, state and nation. It is studied in connection with the course in American History described just above. The two subjects are inter-woven, a more natural and effective method than the usual one of finishing United States history before commencing Civics.