South Side High School - Totem Yearbook (Fort Wayne, IN)

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English provokes minds The South Side English Depart- ment has many attributes. Not only does it provide many phases of English but it has extracurricu- lar activities in English as well. One example of an extracurricular activity is the trip that some of the students took to Canada to see the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. A group of South Siders saw three plays performed by excellent casts. Some of the most difficult pro- jects an English student must face are the research paper and the hour-long. The research paper is, very simply, an accumulation of facts and quotes organized into a report that hopefully makes some sense. The teacher who is notorious for giving difficulty over the research paper is Mr. Ronald Fecher. Some students complain about Mr. Fecher's pickmess, while others dutifully go about the task of setting their margins and underlining in red ink. In reality, Mr. Fecher is simply trying to pre- pare college-bound students for professors who will not accept any papers that are not perfectly typed and perfectly written. The hour-long is not only a research paper but also an hour- long presentation to one's English class. The hour-long involves research of a novel and its author. One must learn about the theme, plot, characters, and importance of the novel he is reporting. Along with all of this, one must be able to present everything in a way that the other students are able to understand. There are many other projects required of South Side English students. Each year students read one of William Shakespeare's classic plays. Romeo and Juliet is read by the freshmen, Julius Cae- sar by the sophomores, Macbeth by the juniors, and Hamlet by the seniors. This required reading teaches the students the beauty of drama and English. It is exciting to think that English will always enhance the life of each student. Mrs. Diane Stone, English teacher, explains the elements contained in most theatrical works. Phil Pranger, junior, portrays the charac- ter of Beowulf battling the terrible mon- ster Grendel. 24 English

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Curriculum continues to provide knowledge When one begins to look at what high school really is, he may come up with a variety of different answers. But when he considers the most important aspect of a high school, the only conclusion he can draw is aca- demics. As Mr. Jack Weicker, princi- pal, said, the number-one rea- son for students to come to South Side is to be equipped with education. South Side does pride itself on the fact that it has one of the finest teaching staffs anywhere. And this staff grew this year by bringing 21 new teachers to accommodate the arrival of a freshman class. There are many excellent courses of study at South. Many of these fields are English, math, social studies, art, music, science, business, industrial arts, foreign language, and physical education. Although one may enjoy vari- ous extra-curricular activities, he must remember that they are extra from the insur- mountable importance of a good curriculum that would be for one's own benefit. No matter what road one may take after high school, whether college, work, or trade school, there is an academic path at South he can take. At South there are courses for all the dif- ferent school needs. Academies 23 :';i '■'■■:■■ ' 'H '■W :!.T']ht ■■ -. ?;■ ■: ''}.■'•$$ 1 ■ ■ ■■';■ ■

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Mrs. Jane Langdon, English teacher, watches over her senior class as they work on their subordinate clauses. Elaine Williams, junior, demonstrates her dramatic ability, leaving teacher Mrs. Phyllis Bush (left) in hysterics.