Thornridge High School - Piper Yearbook (Dolton, IL)

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rade education boosts self-esteem glt Was reall fun working with our hands' RW - f us f, Above: Lou Debs and Brian Black- more concentrate on accuracy on their mechanical drawing assign- ment. Left: Senior Jim Zelenika uses a table saw to cut wood for his pro- ject. Top: Working together, Lee Albery and Tyreese Singleton change an air filter in vocational auto. Top Left: Tim Sander works with Tracy Van Hook in operating a volt meter in vocational electronics. Industrial Arts Department 49

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k wf '-n P , Preparing stu- dents with basic skills needed for immediate em- ployment in the trades field, the Industrial Arts Department provided a variety of vocational classes. The electronics class pro- vided a two-year program. The first year dealt with digital and solid state elec- tronics. The second year consisted of computers and computer repair. 'lThis pro- 48 Industrial Arts Department gram was set up with state of the art equipment, said Mr. Robert Graham, elec- tronics teacher. ln the construction trades class, students spent three periods a day rebuilding both the exterior and interi- or of a two-story house lo- cated in Harvey. 'llt was really fun getting out there and working with your hands, rather than sitting in a stuffy old classroom, said Andy DeBoer, senior. Other classes included working in wood shop where students created in- dividual projects. Auto shop focused on the re- building of engines. ln met- al shop students had hands on experience with ma- chines found in many fac- tories. l'The shop classes were fun in a sense that you were responsible for your job, and you were your own boss. The stereotype of a shop class was said to be a class for people who just wanted to graduate. But for some it was a class which built self-confidence and also gave the basics for a trade which would help later in life, said Mario Me- lone, senior. Looking to the future, the department offered techni- cal education which en- abled students to get a head start on skills needed in the trades job market.

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Work voiees student individualit 'I learned to express feelings through creating' Everyone wish- es to express his individuality whether it be through looks or personality. But in the Art Department the stu- dents used their works to voice their individuality. ln Jewelry l, students cre- ated their own original pieces of jewelry by using gold, silver, and other met- als. Some students found the class advantageous as 50 Art Department well as fun. 'ilt's given me a new hobby, and l'm consid- ering making a profit from it, said Marcia Runge, freshman. Craig West, junior, who was an independent study student in an, agreed with Mr. Donn Berwanger, chair- man, on projects he was to do. The l.S. program paid for many of his art suppiies. Independent study gave me time during school to work on projects for art competition, said Craig. Design students worked on a wide range of topics from the mental effects of color to metamorphoses of shapes. I teamed to ex- press my feelings through creating works of art, said Dave Garcia, senior. Because of the growing requirements demanded from students, electives such as art classes shrunk in number and in many cases were discontinued because of the lack of en- rollment. I was realiy look- ing forward to a second year of Drawing or Painting, and I couldnt believe not enough people wanted to take it, said Steve Gill, sophomore. However, in the end those that took the few art classes offered found it a time in their busy schedule to enjoy expressing their in-o dividuality.