St Josephs High School - HiWay Yearbook (South Bend, IN)

Page 24 text:

English — Key To All Communication In Mr. Rose ' s English class, Kevin Osborne pantomimes an Olympic skater. With help from his students in Junior English, Brother Francis Rotsaert delves into the ideas in one of Hawthorne ' s short stories. Recently an increasing de- mand has arisen for precise communication. The EngHsh Department of St. Joseph ' s headed by Sister Peter Julian and Brother Francis Rotsaert has recognized this growing de- mand and has modernized its teaching methods to prepare stu- dents for the challenges of col- lege and career. Increased emphasis has been put on the study of vocabulary, but not ocabulary learned by memorizing lists of words, but rather through more reading and discussion. Four years of grammar and writing are taught along with the increased stress on word power. Explanation and discussion of selected pieces of literature — usually in paperback form — helps instill a greater imder- standing and appreciation. Com- parison of different styles of writing and their authors provides an excellent opportun- it for sutdents to see how ef- fectively thev can use what they are learning. W-

Page 23 text:

No radical changes were made in the teaching of math in the Boys ' Department this year. However, Girls ' Department teachers, in a meeting last spring, decided to replace the customary paperback S.M.S.G. with hard- back books. At least one reason for the change was expressed by an in- structor in this manner: Terms used in part two of S.M.S.G. were explained in part one, therefore the pupils needed S.M.S.G. from the beginning to understand it. The new texts allow students to take algebra two years in a row. Previously pupils had to take algebra and geometry, then revert back to algebra in an ad- vanced form. Geometry is now taken first to teach logical rea- soning so that students will have a better background for algebra. A problem in Brother Brian ' s High School Math class seems to have most of the students stumped. Jabbing a finger for emphasis, Brother Rosaire makes a point in trigonometry.

Page 25 text:

The influence of Puritanism in American Literature is discussed by Brother Francis Rotsaert in his Junior English class. Left: Jabbing a finger for emphasis, Brother Daniel Bengert makes a point about Addison and Steele in English Literature. Below: The object of in- terest in Sister Joseph Frances ' jour- nalism class is a report by Becky Mi- chaels. Il The book Promethean Fire ' is under discussion by Miss Adams and her students in English lit.