Richford High School - Searchlight Yearbook (Richford, VT)

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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.

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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

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R. H. s. SEARCHLIGHT 31 Current Events Constant attention is given to present day happenings in state, nation and World. This is done through special classes held once a week in Classes 1 and 2 and in the regular history classes in the last four years. Latin The course in Latin follows quite close- ly the requirements laid down by the New England College Entrance Certificate board. The subject is begun in Class 3. The usual first-year Latin course is offered, cov- ering the fundamentals of Latin grammar, translation and compositfon. In Class 4, four books of Caesar or their equivalent are read and easy sentences based on the text are translated from English into Latin once a week. In Class 5, no less in. amount than six of Cicero's orations are read and composition is studied once a week. In Class 6, no less in amount than the first six books of Virgil's Aeneid are real. This amount is selected from the writings of Virgil and Ovid. F rencfi French may be commenced in Class 3. French 3 is the usual first-year course, including systematic drill in drammar, pro- nunciation, trans'ation and composition. The latter part of the year a book is read which deals with French life and customs and gives a glimpse of the charm of France. French 4 is open only to pupils who have completed French 3. The fundamentals of French grammer are completed, includ- ing an aim to develop the capacity to tran- slate from the foreign language into Eng- lish and vice-versa. A consistent amount of standard Fench literature is read, with some emphasis upon sight translation and also the ability to read with direct comprehen- sion tthat is, with translationl. The ele- mentary principles of phonetics will be used as an aid to correct pronunciation, in connection with the oral and aural methods and dictation will be emphasized. - French V is intended for those students who expect to continue French in college. The course will be shaped to be of the greatest help to such students. Physics The science laboratory is roomy and well-equipped. The purpose of the course is two fold: ill To prepare for college en- trance, but 123 primarily to stress the prac- tical side of the subject. Everyday life is full of physical phenomena. Every indus- rial pursuit from farming to watch-making, every household activity from sweeping to reading the electric meter is made easier and more effective by an understanding of the physical principles involved. A good Physics course makes life pleasanter be- cause it makes it better understood. Pupils are given the fullest possible opportunity to perform experiments per- sonally in the laboratory and to receive ex- planations about mechanical devices or happenings in the physical world. Chemistry This course is offered as an elective, open to students in Classes 5 and 6. As in Physics, the aim of the course is principally to acquaint the student with the applica- tion of Chemistry to the problems of everyday life. While, enough of the theory of the subpect is presented to meet college entrance requfrements, practical rather than theoretical work is emphasized. f Agriculture and Shop-Work ' The work in agriculture is designed to extend through the six-year course of junior- senior high school, being required of boys in Clasees 1 and 2 and elective for Classes 3, 4, 5 and 6. I i