Thornton Township High School - Thorntonite Yearbook (Harvey, IL)

Page 31 text:

4 accent rfnefaveb The Social Science Department, is divided into three sections, history, economics, and civics. Mr. C. C. Steg- meir heads the history group and Mr. J. F. Zimmerman, the economics and civics. Students wishing to study history may choose from one of three groups: European history, the study of man ' s development from the cave man stage to the time of the French Revolution ; modern history, which begins its study with the French Revolution and con- tinues to the present day; or American history, a subject required of every student before he can be graduated from Thornton, which teaches of the birth and growth of the United States. If a student wishes to learn more about the rights and duties of our government, he may choose to study civics. Maybe a student wants to know more about his legal rights; if so, commercial law is the subject for him. Economics, the science that investigates the con- ditions and laws affecting the production, distribution, and consumption of wealth, is popular among upper classmen.

Page 30 text:

u4uteA4, ei ty6 We need stenographers, bookkeep- ers, comptometer operators ! We need workers! is the constant call at the door of Thornton ' s Business Depart- ment. With more and more men going to the armed forces, the vacant seats of business and vital industry must be filled, and Thornton is doing its part giving thorough training to its stu- dents. Under the guidance of Miss Eva L. Lieber, the department not only pro- duces fast, accurate typists and speedy shorthand writers, but it trains stu- dents in the use of the adding machine, dictaphone, ditto machine, mimeo- graph, and other machines found in the business world of today. There are also relative subjects, such as economics, bookkeeping, and salesmanship, which further the training of efficient workers. After completing four years of the Business course, a person isn ' t a stu- dent any more, but a trained individual ready for the business world. He can accept a position with confidence, knowing he has been well trained to do an efficient and accurate job. Thornton is also conducting night classes for those who want additional training to better themselves in the field of business.

Page 32 text:

' potetyt P6ncL4e4, Today as people look forward to the postwar world, a world of closer international cooperation, the Foreign Language Department assumes an ever increasing important role in the development of the future leaders of America. Headed by Miss Mildred Anderson, this depart- ment offers courses in French, German, Latin, Spanish, and Russian. Not only do the students learn to speak and read the language, but they receive an understanding of the culture, customs, and ideals of other peoples as expressed in their native tongues. With this understanding comes intelligence to cope with world problems and a sympathy and tolerance toward other peoples, which might not otherwise be. French classes offer a knowledge of the beautiful language and the quaint customs of the French people, as well as an understanding of and perhaps a way of strengthening the weaknesses of the people, as shown by the present war. In direct contrast to the situation which prevailed during the first World War, an increase in the number of German classes has become necessary, proof of the open-mindedness of America ' s youth. The study of Latin reveals the civilization of the ancient Roman empire builders. It acquaints pupils with their great literary heritage and aids in under- standing the English language. The language of our neighbors to the south, Spanish, is at present the most popular foreign language at Thornton. Realization of the impor- tance of the Latin-American countries, coupled with the growing interest in Pan-Americanism, explains the number of students in the Spanish classes. Russian is a new language at Thornton. Since this country is one of our allies in the present war, Russia will be close to us in the future, and we may very possibly in the near future need to be able to speak with these peoples in their own language, as well as with the Latin-Americans.