Richford High School - Searchlight Yearbook (Richford, VT)

Page 35 text:

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

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.

Page 36 text:

3.2 R. H. S. SEARCHLIGHT The work of the first year covers the principles of general science and their ap- lication to agriculture practice. Agriculture 2 deals with various phases of agriculture in a general way. These two years are pre- paratory for the advanced work in agri- culture. Agriculture 3 is devoted to animal husbandry studies. This course includes a study of the types and breeds of domestic animals and the judging of different classes of live stock. The subject of feeds and feed- ing is emphasized. Much work is done in testing dairy products and cow-test work is carried out in some cases. Agriculture 4 is based on a study of farm crops and methods of production. Dur- ing the spring term, time is given to a con- sideration of soil management, the proper handling and use of fertilizers and systems of crop rotation. In Agriculture 5 and 6, and opportunity is given for further study on any particular topic which the student may select. Farm accounting, cow-test work, or farm manage- ment are the topics usually considered. These classes are elective in a double sense, for as the work is largely individual, only those students who in the opinion of the in.- structor are likely to profit from the class are encouraged to follow the course. In all classes field trips for first-hand study and practice in various phases of agri- cultural work figure largely. Such trips may take the class to an orchard for practice in spraying or grafting, or into the fields for astudy of soil types and observation of cultural methods. Frequent trips to inspect the various home projects give the student an opportunity to compare methods and help to stimulate interest in this part of the work. ' Home project work is encouraged through the entire course. This work is under supervision of the teacher of agricul- ture and gives the student an opportunity to apply the knowledge gained. For ex- ample, boys interested in poultry raising have had an opportunity to learn the man- agement of incubators at the school, where three different machines have been run through two hatches this spring. The chicks hatched give the boys a start in poultry raising. Accurate time and cost accounts on each project is insisted upon and results checked up at different intervals. Many of the boys have enrolled in the different branches of State Boys' and Girls' Club Work and are eligible to compete for prizes offered by the Vermont Bankers Association and other organizations. A school fair is held in the fall at the school building at which student is expected to exhibit some- thing produced in his project. Shop work is offered through the six years. The making of articles for use in the project work or for use on the home farm, and the repair of small tools and im- plements is the type of work encouraged. The shop work classes do much of the car- penter and repair work called for about the school building. Some of the work has been to finish off the gymnasium on the third floor, to build a thirty-foot partition through one of the main rooms and to paint the window sills throughout the building. A number of excellent articles of furniture have been made. Shop and agriculture classes have seeded and smoothed the lawn and planted shrubbery about the walks. The school is well equipped to carry on the work of this department. The science laboratory is available for much experi- mental work in connection with the agri- culture coursfs. A large hot bed construct- ed by the students is available for practice in the seedling plants. An opportunity for stock judging is afforded at many stock farms in the vicinity. A good set of carpen- ter's tools is available for the shop Work. The agricultural department, both in- structor and students is at the service of the farmers of the community. Students are en- couraged to bring to school samples of milk and cream for testing, seeds for seed-testing, soils for acidity tests or problems in balanc- ing rations, either from their home farm or for a neighbor. That the farmers appreciate his service is evidenced by the amount of such work being done.