Springfield High School - Capitoline Yearbook (Springfield, IL)

Page 21 text:

:::::::::::::::ij:a:::F??iZE?-EEEQ-1? ix ln 212:53 l is ' T Qiztnrg Brpartnwnt HIS has been a good year in his- tory. We have had the use of nearly 200 new books. The bet- ter students especially have done a great deal of reading. The supervised study period has helped a great deal. It is now easy to get books. The study hour serves also as a laboratory period for all kinds of writing and drawing. Illustration came up every day of the value of history to other lines of study. English History and Senior English are almost parallel, and each helps the other. lt is impossible to read the news- papers, especially, now, without a knowledge of modern history, and our modern history classes are paying espe- cial attention to modern conditions. The growth of our civics classes show that students realize its value as a live subject. fllirrhaniral Brmning Bvpartmvnt HE aim, hope and result of the work accomplished by this de- partment are these in brief: The aim is to give every one a chance to develop or try out his talents along me- chanical lines. This will aid in making a decision for a vocation either along mechanical or some other line, and also give each one an understanding and reading knowledge of drawings. Ry giving this opportunity in school, it is hoped each one will be guided into the vocation for which he is best fitted. The results are that many are fitted for mechanical occupations and make them a success. fllllathvmatira Erpartmvnt HE individual progress plan as worked out in the department of mathematics strives to overcome three serious defects of the simultane- ous plan, viz: f lst. The class assignments under the old plan are for pupils of ordinary abil- ity and result in a great waste of time for those who can do two or three times as much work. 2d. By these same assigmnents the dull pupils are dragged along because they cannot keep up with the assign- ments, resulting in the Work being half done, or not done at all. ' 3d. The outgrowth of the above is a system of interdependence that per- meates the whole class under the old plan, resulting in habits of dependence on others that must adhere to life and character, habits of dishonesty, of Hstallingf' of pretending ,of waiting for a cue, of getting by for the time being, etc. These the individual prog- ress plan overcomes.

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1:::::::::::q::::-:gzznisgggig I .4-x?- -f 22: H Evpartmrnt nf iqnuavhnlh Arts T is the aim of the Household Arts courses to cultivate in a girl an ap- preciation of the arts pertaining to the home. The Household Art teaches her to plan, choose, buy, cut and make her gar- ments, taking into consideration the durability, quality and style of each. Not only underwear and dresses, but hats, simple evening gowns, coats and suits are made in this department. ln the Household Science, aside from the study of food and its preparation, other topics of importance to the home are studied. They include the planning of the house, the selection of furnish- ings and wall coverings, the cost of fur- nishing the house and its upkeep, its management and practice in home- nursing and first aid. Bnmrtmrnt nf Iiinlngg HE person who knows nothing about his own life, or that of liv- ing things about him, misses a great part of the beneicial and uplift- ing side of life. He fails to see the pur- pose of his own life, or the care he should give his own body. He fails to see insects and animals which may be useful or harmful, and loses sight of the beauty of flowers and plants. Bi- ology must make us observe the most commonplace things, and put us in har- mony with Nature itself. Bvpartmvnt nf lihgniw HE principal aims of the Physics course are four in number. First, the course should give us an ac- curate knowledge of why and how the familiar things of the physical world happen. Early in life we have gained a vague knowledge regarding these fa- miliar things, we know that an apple falls from a tree to the ground, that steam is used to run engines, that an inflated balloon rises, that sounds are transmitted more or less, mysteriously along telephone wires by electric cur- rents, etc., etc. Physics should teach us accurately why and how these things happen. Second, we should receive in the Physics course the same accurate in- formation concerning physical phe- nomena with which we are less or per- haps not at all familiar, such as the laws of motion, generation of electricity, and the mechanics of transmission of sound and light. Third, Physics, being largely an ex- perimental science, should give us the ability and the desire to conduct careful observations or experiments, and to ob- tain the correct scientific conclusions by careful logical deduction. Fourth, the course is expected to be of value, not only to those who will make practical use of it, but also to those in pursuit of a liberal education, for it will teach a pupil to think clearly, to express himself precisely, and to test his conclusions accurately.

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::::::::::::: '-'- ---- 7 -f----- ---- - i. -5? -J-a:--- f Q CD 2 Qlhvmiatrg Evpartmrnt HE course in Chemistry in the Springfield High School is in- tended to introduce the students to the value of chemistry as a science. The aim of the department is to present the subject in such a way that it will result in lasting value to that large class of students who go no farther and also for those who continue the subject. Chemistry is growing in favor with the High School student and many are looking forward to industrial and en- gineering chemistry as a profession. High School chemistry will make it pos- sible for many to find an interesting field of work. liriniing Brpartmrnt URING the last semester of the present school year the capacity of the print shop has been taxed to its utmost and present conditions seem to indicate a full enrollment for next year. Advanced courses are be- ing planned and many advantages will be offered to both the elementary and advanced student which the school has not been able to give before. Mainly this will be the offering and the oppor- tunity to the student or original work in constructive and commercial printing. mnnhmnrking Brpartmeni HE woodworking department of- fering courses in turning and cabinet making is finally coming into its own. This year two additional rooms have been added, one a 'dnishing room, the other a store room. With these necessary rooms the pupils are getting far better and more finished re- sults. ln the finishing room a fuming box has been constructed with a large window in one side. Now the pupils are finishing genuine fumed oak. The department has long been in need of machines and this year a sander and a mortiser have been installed. These save the pupils much time and relieve them of drudgery. The enrollment has increased this year by over half. Many students are doing advanced work and are making some very valuable pieces of furniture. Some are trying period furniture which helps combine Woodturning and cabinet making.