Shaker Heights High School - Gristmill Yearbook (Shaker Heights, OH)

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Students cought in the act — actually working in class. ability to think logically and ro deal with abstractions is valu- able in any future course of study. Shaker offers both eleinen- tary and advanced courses in algebra and geometry plus trigo- nometry and applied mathematics. Students doing exceptionally well in mathematics were placed in an accelerated class which completed the required work and in addition, a course in cal- culus. Through social studies courses pupils became better citizens by gaining an awareness of international interdependence, an underst anding of American ideals and institutions, and a knowl- edge of democratic method. Two required courses, American History and American Government, explain the political system in the United States and the fine heritage left this younger gen- eration. Whether students prepare for college or business, they gain valuable skills from Business Education classes which include typing, shorthand, bookkeeping. Business Law, and Business English. The Music, Art, Industrial Arts, and Home Economics De- partments offer instruction of value in either avocational or vocational fields. The high ratings of Shaker students in Ohio and national scholarship tests and college board examinations prove that Shaker enjoys a considerable measure of success in achieving its scholastic goals. The boys use a little elbow grease on a 51 Chewy. Chop fine one cup of celery , A fine example of type casting.

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Shaker Offers a Program of Sixty Subjects Mr. Goodman gives a Redox equation party. Miss Hollon helps Marie Bianco plan her future. Shaker is chiefly a college-preparatory school, since ninety per cent of its graduates attend colleges throughout the U.S. To give students the background necessary for college work, the school maintains high scholastic standards. Classes are geared to the above-average student, and all are encouraged to work to their fullest capacity. Counselors discuss with each student his col- lege and vocational plans, aiding him to choose a course of study which will be most profitable for him. All students take the Kuder Vocational and Personal Preference tests which help them to select the vocations for which they are best suited. Shakerites preparing for college are encouraged to take several mathematics, English, language, science, and social studies courses. The ability to express one ' s thoughts clearly is of the utmost importance. Thus particular stress is ' laid upon the study of English. Skill, taste, and knowledge are developed through com- position, grammar and usage, spelling, vocabulary, and read- ing. Composition in all years is taught with the stimulating ac- companiment of literature. The sophomore year is an introduc- tion to literature which acquaints students with several types of prose and poetry. Juniors study American Literature, learning about the American dream from Emerson, Lincoln, Whitman, and others who dreamed it. During this year six weeks is spent in a class designed to teach students how to write speeches and speak in public. These two years are the minimum English re- quirement for graduation. Completing the course, seniors become familiar with English Literature through the study of great writers including Shakespeare, Milton, Shelley, and Maugham. The English Department also offers a reading improvement course which develops reading speed and comprehension. Wider horizons are open to students through the study of a foreign language. By studying Spanish, French, Latin, or Ger- man, a student gains knowledge of another country, literature, and way of life as well as a tool of scholarship. The language department feels that if the great barrier of language is wiped away, there will be a greater chance for world peace. Man has tried for millions of years to improve his environment by building shelters, plantfng crops, and killing wild animals. Today Shaker physics, biology, and chemistry students study the world in which they live, hoping someday to apply what they have learned in making medical, scientific, and engineering advances. Students are not taught from the textbook alone. Lab- oratory sessions and motion pictures are employed to illustrate the topic under study. In biology an individual project must be completed by every student. Such impressive works as building o T.V. camera and doing original research on the study habits of high school students have been accomplished. Projects are encouraged in the other science classes, as well as participation in many science contests. One of the courses most necessary to a prospective college student is mathematics. Every standardized aptitude or achieve- ment test contains many questions relating to mathematics. The

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Research or study is made easy by fhe library facilities. Jack Freund will discover there is more to geometry than drawing triangles. Shaker High School follows the policy of test, teach, test, be- cause its extensive testing program enables the faculty to know more about each student. Early in the school year several diag- nostic tests in vocabulary, spelling, and reading are given and the results employed in mapping the course of study in English for the year. In addition to the usual weekly tests in most classes, mid-term and final examinations are given in all major subjects. Juniors and seniors are required to take an academic aptitude test, the American Council Psychological Examination, and sen- iors may choose to take Scholastic Aptitude and Achievement Tests sponsored by the College Board. Co-operative Achieve- ment Tests are given in all science, mathematics, and language courses, English and American History. The results of these co- ops, which are given at many high schools, show that Shaker compares favorably with independent (private) schools. i .J.4r dtJ M M A young hopeful checks her exam grade. Are they playing Concentration?