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

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.

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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.

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yteatune 7ttanvel What is one-third of Thornton ' s student body doing this year? Study- ing one of the mathematics courses offered, algebra, plane geometry, ad- vanced algebra, solid geometry, or trig- onometry. That dry stuff? Why? Thornton students have learned that x ' s and y ' s plus triangles and signs may give them a chance to soar into the Navy or Army Air Corps or a ticket to a college or university. Is it any wonder then that teachers this year find students grind- ing away to pass that algebra exam in- stead of letting it ride ? Non-mathe- maticians received a rude awakening to the increasing use and demand for dusty Mr. Euclid and Mr. Pythagoras in numerous qualification tests for the Air Corps. The members of the thirty-eight classes now organized under the direc- tion of Mr. Guy Phillips and his associ- ates are finally realizing that the short cuts help immensely in solving difficult problems. After the war everyone will en- counter more complex machines pro- duced through the aid of modernized mathematics. The methods of mathe- matics reveal the principles by means of which man is able to build and invent greater tools. The struggle with math is not in vain, for invention equals work times initiative, which in itself is a mathematical deduction.