Sharon High School - Mirror Yearbook (Sharon, PA)

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The Mirror of 1931 miss McMullen MR. REANEY MRS. ROBERTS MISS BROWN MISS WHIELDON English Department MISS ARMOUR I lu study of English is the foundation for all the subjects in the curriculum. And indeed, English is the basis of our civilization—our way of communicating ideas. It is true that a pupil could get along without high school English. But it is certainly worth his while to study it, and the state deems it important enough to make it a required subject. It is high school English that gives the student a finished, polished speech that makes him an interscholastic speaker. English is responsible tor the eloquent expression of thought. And English it is that enables pupils to quote Shakespeare. Pope, and other writers whose words are famous for wit, wisdom, or beauty. English, again acquaints students, through hook reports and class studies, with very worth-while literature. And, certainly English helps them in all their other studies— science, mathematics, and other languages. But English is not a great machine that pounds knowledge into students’ heads. It is a subject taught by capable teachers, who understand the needs of every individual and help each one to overcome his weaknesses in speech or composition. Much credit for the success of the pupils in the aforementioned activities and subjects, is due to our English teachers. We thank them. ELIZABETH McMULLEN Thiel College. A.B.; Columbia University, M.A. English Ilf-IV. ROWENA MacBRIDE Grove City College, Lt.B. English IV'. MAUD BLAIRE ROBERTS Allegheny College, A.B. English II-III. BESSIE ECKI.ES Ohio Wesleyan University, A.B. English III. T welve

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 ■ The Mirror of 1931 Administration Department A philosophy of life includes the guiding motives and ideals which largely direct one's life. Each high school has a philosophy, which in a manner makes it individualistic. The state may prescribe the curriculum, yet the high schools of the state may, and usually are very different one from the other We say the atmosphere of the school is different, the attitude of faculty and students is different and the graduates have characteristics which identify them as products of a certain school. What then is the philosophy of Sharon High School? Sharon High School is characterized by a philosophy which says that character, initiative, and tools, in the order mentioned, are the important goals toward which we drive. Character first, because it is the foundation upon which all other elements of an education must be built. Without a good character the ambitious educated man becomes a menace, a source of danger to our Republic. With a good character he is usually a desirable citizen and may become a great leader. Initiative we place second. It is the driving force which makes a good man, good for something. It is the force which causes a man to make good use of the tools with which he has become skillful. Our studies, algebra, English. Latin, history, etc., the tools with which we work, come third, because they are the result of character and initiative. They are the servants of the other two and have no value except as they are directed. The man who has only initiative and knowledge is a liability, because he uses his skill for unworthy purposes. The man who has character and knowledge and no initiative is an idler and of no profit to society. But he who has character and initiative will not and cannot be stopped. He will find a way. He will succeed. Character, initiative and tools, but the greatest of these is character. This, then, is our philosophy and we are willing to be judged by its fruits. P. A. JONES, Principal. Eleven

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The Mirror of 1931 MISS GIBBONS MISS GAMBLE MISS MOORE The Language Department MR. RANEY miss McBride MISS SAEGER The Language Department of our scliooi exists primarily to teach foreign languages, but this is not its only function. It also brings to us a knowledge of ancient and modern history that cannot ordinarily he gained in a history class. The Language Department is indeed an exceedingly interesting phase of school life. Students who never studied Latin often believe that this language is not interesting because it is not being spoken at the present time. This belief is absolutlv wrong. First-year Latin books contain typical stories of Roman life. The next three years arc devoted to the study of famous men in Roman history, such as Caesar, Pliny, and Vergil. Besides being interesting, this course in Latin forms an excellent foundation for the study of any foreign language, because most present-day languages contain a large percentage of words that arc either derived from or are identical with Latin words. Spanish and French form the modern language division of our school. Spanish, in the opinion of many people, is the most beautiful and simple language of the world. The Spanish books acquaint the pupils with present-day Spain and Spanish America. More people speak Spanish than any other tongue. French, however, is held the standard foreign language of today by many people. One of the French books used is, Around the World in Eighty Days,” by Jules Verne. This well-known novel appeals to everyone because it contains both adventure and romance. The Latin Department is the oldest of the three, the French Department is next in age, while the Spanish Department is the youngest. Each of these divisions maintains a club which provides entertaining and instructive programs. These programs often develop talent for interscholastic events that might otherwise remain undiscovered. (). W. RANEY Westminster College, M.A. Latin III-IY. ANNA McBRIDK Westminster College. B.S.; Columbia University Summer Sessions. French I-II. VKRNICE SAEGER Thiel College, A.B.; Cornell Summer Sessions. Latin II. AUGUSTA GIBBONS Allegheny College. A.B.; Columbia University Summer Sessions. Latin I. ELEANOR GAMBLE Westminster College, A.B.; Wisconsin Sum mer Sessions. Latin 1-11. RUTH MOORE Westminster College. A.B. Spanish I-II. Thirteen