Sturgis High School - Sturgensian Yearbook (Sturgis, MI)

Page 19 text:

MIND AND MATTER Surrounded by test tubes, microscopes, and Brunson Burners, we scientists of tomorrow dissected frogs and brought the wrath of the school upon us by concocting HZS. Beginning in the seventh grade we learned about the world and the people about us from our geography teacher, lliss VVakeman. IXIr. Bowdish gave us an understanding of general science in the eighth grade. It was at this time that we learned how and why things happen. Perhaps the experience we will re- member longest was our brief sojourn in the electric chair! Biology was our next undertaking of science, Here we became acquainted with life-its function and phases. VVords like ''platyhelminthel' and monocotyledon swamped us for a While but we soon added them to our vocabularies. Along with our regular classroom work we often had educational movies which gave variety to the course. The next year hir. DeVVitt taught us the fundamentals of the major sciences-physics and chemistry. NVe learned the functions of atoms and molecules in chemistry and gained a practical everyday use of science in these senior science classes. Wie are trying to prepare ourselves to pro- mote peace through the use of science in the future years. School In Session ,, , . . - . IJ Mr. DeWitt-Llass, lets discuss this seriously. 75 Terry Nl-Holm, what do we add next? erry lVl.-Teacher, l don't think thz1t's the right ansx

Page 18 text:

School In Session lj Hard at work doing some of those attractive projects we have seen in the show eases all year. 14 TH EY CREATE TH I NGS B EAUTI FU L ln an art class the creative impulse of stud- ents finds expression in some material form. Ir 1nay be in painting, in drawing, in model- ing with clay or in the choosing, handling, arranging and construction of materials. Re- gardless of the medium, there is always the satisfaction of achievement in this kind of work. Drawing is a universal language. It can tell a story more dramatically than words. hlany professions and occupations depend on a knowledge of this basic language-the picture instead of words. It has been said a good picture is worth a thousand words. A drawing has the same meaning in any language. VVe do all our building from draw- ings-whether it be an egg beater or a sky- scraper. ln the beginning art classes the work has been practical as well as ornamental. Port- folios were made out of cardboard and cover- ed Students worked on color, making a study of the color wheel and experimented with different combinations of colors. At Christmas time this class made gifts. After this, they did portrait work and drew pictures of students, faces. Then they did figure drawing, poster work and perspective work which had to do with still life and landscape, ln all, this class covered quite a bit of ground. ln the advanced class, the student is given more freedom in experimenting with various mediums, and is allowed to create his own subject matter. They experiment with medi- ums they haven't worked with before, such as oil painting, etc. Any art work needed by the school is taken care of by this class. Painting the scenery for the operetta is an example. Art plays a very important part in the life of any school child for his life can be made more pleasant, satisfying and purposeful when he is taught to create and build and to be instilled with a love for, and appreciation of, things beautiful.

Page 20 text:

School In Session Mrs. Pugh-Let's tackle the spelling lessons. Miss Huizenga-Get your papers ready for a test. Miss VVhitelock-Yes, Sheridan, use 'liel in that sentence. Seventh graders write their spelling words. GRAM MAR AT VVORK Come with me, as I take you on a conducted tour to the rooms where our English teachers reign. Letys look first into the seventh grade room. Here, in our Junior High English courses, we began supressing our aint's,' and our has wentisu. There Miss VVakeman and hir. Smith taught us to write letters, carry on conversation, use parts of speech correctly, and to make correct sentences. Miss Whitelock in grade eight showed us that Tom Sawyer and Treasure Islandn are even more exciting than comic books. Under her guidance we learned how and what to read. Freshman English under Mi's. Pugh and M1'. Raymond Smith carried us well along our English road, Correct speech, correct writing, book reports,-all the fields of Eng- lish usage-were explored. VVe learned to like the classics , in spite of our earlier preju- dices. bliss Huizenga in English ten gave us much interesting project work. Our bulletin board, featuring people and events pertaining to Eng- lish, intrigued us and kept us busy. She taught us to have something to say and be able to say it.', Speech class work covered public speaking, interpretative reading of poetry and dramatics. Final polish was given in our junior and senior years, emphasizing perfection in prepar- ation, in a great many cases, for college Work. The final test was the ability to write com- positions which were appealing and accurate to the last comma, the knowledge of the Worldis great masterpieces in literature, and the desire for future reading. In journalism, under Airs. Pugh's direction, we acquired an understanding of newspaper work. Our goal in all our years of English study has been to make us better prepared to become a part of cultured society. Science has given us methods of communications-the printing press, the telephone, the radio-we must know how to use them properly.