Technical High School - Tech Tiger Yearbook (Springfield, MA)

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Donald McLeon and Sally Elphinstone use Linguaphone in Spanish class French class seeking material in LaPressa For only four people, the teachers who for a living valiantly try to teach us some French, Spanish, or German have a wide span of interests. They have survived nine to twenty-five years of Tech and its pupils. Before this they have taught in other schools reaching from California, Pennsylvania, to Massachusetts. Mostly though, they have made their home here at Tech. For activities while in Tech, one finds being a Junior Class Advisor her interest, while another likes to participate in the Chess Club. After school, the women enjoy housekeeping, and making fancy cakes. Along with this they read, travel, take part in sports, and paint. The men paint also, particularily water-color painting. After this they mountain climb, hike, and garden. Any Techites having these teachers are very fortunate, for besides holding various degrees, these teachers have a wealth of experience and travel behind them upon which they base the knowledge which they willingly pass on to us. LANGUAGES As we wander through Tech on the second floor, we halt in surprise, for we hear odd sounds issuing from sev- eral rooms. Stopping to listen awhile, we try to determine what these weird noises are. We soon discover that they are just some earnest students trying their best to pronounce a few new words in French. Being intrigued with what is coming forth, we pause a while. It is soon shown to us that French is not all learning vocabulary and reading literature, but it also means mastering many grammar points, just like English. Now language minded and with one ear full of French, we move on to learn something about Spanish. This time, although the sounds still seem weird to us, they have a different swing to them. They also seem to have acquired a slightly metallic sound. We take a peek through the window, and discover that the class is learning Spanish with the help of a phonograph. This accounts for the metallic quality we noted a moment ago. After listening to the phonograph, the students themselves read, while a wire recorder takes down what they say. The recorder helps them to see their mistakes, and enables them to begin to sound like true Spaniards. Moving on down the hall, we come upon a class read- ing newspapers. Goodness, what can this be? Oh! it’s just a German class learning their German by studying a German newspaper. Through these papers the language classes learn much about Germany, the German people, and their customs. After all this language, we feel that we have learned enough to say an adios, an au revoir, and an auf wieder sehen to you. Left to Right: Fales Newhall, Mary McCarthy, Elsa Jaede, Howard Mitchell

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As the library is the heart of the school, Mrs. Brazeau is the nucleus of this room. We all know her from our fresh- man year when she introduced us to the library, our junior year when she assisted us with material for our themes, and our senior year when we’re old friends. The spirit captured in our library is familiar, for it represents Tech. We con- gregate there realizing we have been given adult privileges and must live up to them. The library acts as a sounding board for grievances, a mixing place for homework and recreation, and liaison between teach- ers and pupils. Our library is a place to be proud of — we are. As seniors, one main project is to study the classics, including Milton and Shakespeare. We also study modern writers, and of course we continue supplementary reading. Although the English fundamentals continue in our senior year as they have throughout our course, something new is added in this last year. We gain experience in interviews and in writing business letters. Also we get practice in taking objective tests such as we encounter in applying for entrance to college, the armed services, or employment. After gathering all the knowledge we are capable of in high school, we are ready to pass on to loftier fields. Accordingly, with this knowledge well in hand, we leave, Left to Right: Sean Boardway, U. S. A.; Wong Lam, Toy Lam, Canton, China; Angelo Passidakis, Sparta, Greece | } 11 Mrs. Brazeau better equipped to use and understand the English language than when we entered. Co-operating with the English department is the library, which should be the heart of the school. Tech can proudly say, “Ours is”, for a student may go there any time of the school day and find a pleasant, well-lighted room suitable for studying or just browsing. There is an atmosphere in this room of capricious moods that encour- ages people to stop by, maybe to pick up the newest fiction, or to do some plain, old fashioned cramming for “the” test. In this welcoming atmosphere, the library habit creeps up on a Techite fast. Left to Right: William Fraser, David Wilson, Clifton Johnson at the mike, Curtis Wyler operating the machine ; a F 1 3 you? uunds naan UF be o Dv: ‘MIND READERS !? ferer or mumbler ? + Gre you o mul . 4 Gre you a fade-out + Cre you a hesilctor’ + Cre yous alloper ‘igue Cre you a eker gobbler A) (On end ANALYZE your

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HISTORY Here we are at the history rooms located on the second and third floors. United States history, modern history, and economics are taught in these rooms. Trudging along the corridor on the second floor we pass room 231 in which economics is taught besides the regular history classes. Here we go. To the student of economics the benefits reaped from the course are many. A knowledge of the business world is acquired. By learning about financial problems the student (the future voter) will be able to vote for the right man. In learning how we are dependent upon others we can understand the problems which confront them. Economics explains employment problems and the need for taxes. Many facts applicable today and in years to come are to be gained fro m the study of economics. Modern history consists of the study of the present times. The study of the World Wars, the important battles, the influence of people on countries, the geographical in- fluence of countries on people, the downfall of Naziism, and the beginning of Communism helps us to understand the present and future world conditions. United States history is the study of past and present history of the United States. We learn how our country came into existence, how by its errors and trials it became the country it is today. If the United Nations is in session at New York and you can talk your teacher into going, it’s a wonderful full day trip to see the General Assembly in action. To us, all of the history classes are important even though the notebooks, volumes of papers, on-the-spur quizes and tests have to be taken with the course, besides the cur- rent events and five minute talks. After all, it’s all for your own good. Seated Left to Right: Leda Scagnelli, Eleanor Reardon, Ruth Grady. Standing: Albert Johnson, Sidney Doane Jean Pinney, Roland Goulet in American History Left to Right, Seated: Claire Trombley, Richard Raymond, David Young, Roy Billings, Eileen Therrien. Standing: Larry Scheehser (moderator) , Jay O'Sullivan, in round-table discussion The history teachers are an active group. They partic- ipate in many activities and they sure get around. To- gether they’ve taught at Forest Park, Buckingham, Tapley, Van Sickle, Myrtle Street Junior High Schools,and Trade High School. For hobbies they are interested in movies and plays, in gardening, mountain climbing, and interior decorating. They belong to and are active in such clubs as the Catholic Women’s Club, Teachers’ Club, and the Massachusetts Teachers’ Association. One of the history teachers is the advisor for the Student Council. The de- grees held by the teachers are as follows: Bachelor of Education, Master of Education, Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Master of Art. Together the history teachers have contributed twenty-five years of their service to the enrichment of the historical background and perspec- tive of us Techites.