Strong Vincent High School - Spokesman Yearbook (Erie, PA)

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Foreign Languages Miss Barringer, Miss Kohout, Miss G-albo, Miss Mercer, Miss Bourquin, Miss Evans, Miss E. Connell, Miss W. Wright. wb JS-9.w1,oi U3-Iutfik T Miss Kohout's-German Class. Miss Bourquin's-French Class. The study of foreign languages is both interesting and practical for the high school student. If he elect the academic course he must devote at least two years to a foreign language. Colleges require one or more foreign languages, many still insisting on a minimum of two years of Latin. Our foreign language department is composed of Latin taught by Miss Mercer, Miss Connell and Miss Willard Wrightg of French taught by Miss Bourquin, Miss Evans and Miss Barringerg and of German and Italian taught by Miss Kahout and Miss Galbo, respectively. Many educators favor studying Latin which is a key to English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portugese, and Roumanian before attempting any other foreign tongue. Our reading abounds in foreign phrases and quotations. If one is able to translate these, he experiences a thrill and feels that his struggle with Caesar, Cicero, Vergil or French verbs has not been in vain. For the physician Latin is the language in which he must write his prescriptions which, in turn, may be interpreted by apothecaries the world over. Studying any language for three or four years should enable one to read and to speak that language fairly well. Reading a work in the original is delightful, as much vividness of style may be lost in trans- lation. If one is fortunate enough to travel in a foreign land and is familiar with the language of that country his trip will be pleasanter and more beneficial. Thus our foreign language department offers a comprehensive course for practical and cultural usage. Ten

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English Miss Barringer, Miss Wright, Miss Allen, Mr. Wallach, Miss Hearn. Mr. Dean, Miss Thomas, Miss Bennett, Miss Connell, Miss Cantlon, Miss Lutje, Miss Hirt. NSunset by Slantsky by John Houston, presented by the class in Public Speaking. Miss Wilson-Librarian. Qofgfjgl Nothing reflects as much credit on an individual as his command of English. ln the Junior High department Miss Allen and Miss Lutje teach correct usage, self expression, vocabulary-building gram- mar, punctuation, capitalization, and composition including narration, letter writing, oral and written reports. Wide reading of worthwhile literature increases the student's vocabulary: learning the meaning and use of new words gives him power of expression. Spelling, although a requsite of each separate study, is constantly emphasized in all English classes. The Senior High advances and supplements the work of the Junior High in the classes of Miss Connell, Miss Wright, Miss Hirt, Miss Hearn, Miss Thomas, Miss Barringer, Miss Bennett, Mr. Dean and Mr. Wallach. Mechanics of English, as a means to better oral and written expression, receive daily attention. To creative Work are added description, exposition, argument, poetry and the short story. Supplementary reading from a comprehensive list continues. The types of literature studied include poetry, the drama, the novel, the essay, the short story, the oration together with American and ,English literature. Pupils proficient in English participate inclubs, debates, the newspaper, the year book and the com- mencement program. By these intellectual activities is any school rightfully judged. Newer com- mencement programs including ten or twelve graduates demonstrate the ability of youthful orators. In these six years any diligent student of English has learned to read understandinglyg to speak correctly, if not fluentlyg to produce some creative work, and he is qualified to enter any freshman college .Englis course via certification or examination. Nine

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Social Science Miss Peters, Miss McCarthy, Miss Fousl, Miss Quirk, Miss Sourwine, Miss Burger. Miss Evans, Mr. Wallace, Mr. Weible, Mr. Gustafson, Mr. McCarthy, Mr. Pratt. Miss Burger's Ptoomf History. Mr. Gustafson's Boom-P. O. D. As history is a record of the progress of civilization, so modern social sciences are a means helpful in equipping us for adult life. Courses offered in this fieldvinclude United States History, European History, Ancient History, Civics, Problems of Democracy, and Economics-all electives, except United States History, required of each high school student for a year. livery American boy and girl should be vitally interested in Civics and United States History. One of the duties of a real patriot is to under- stand fully his government, its background, its policies, and the operation of these. Problems of Democracy and Economics give us an insight into the question of the day. How many of us leave high school prepared to cope with the problems of the modern financial world? Very few of us are actually aware that the business world exists. Naturally the courses, cannot give the student a complete understanding of these problems, but they do make him conscious of conditions and factors which directly influence his life. To learn how to cope with the problems which face every individual in the social world, and to meet these situations intelligently is another duty of a good American citizen. All history classes trace the origin and the development of our race, the foundation of our country, and the formation and expansion of our government. By striving to develop better American citizens the history classes are rendering a service to the individual, to school, and to countryea service which will always be felt and which can never be repaid. Eleven ' 3.1