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

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A Thornton student ' s first year ' s study in the science division is general science, a required subject for all freshmen except girls taking physiology. The science courses are designed to give the student a chance to discover his in- terests as well as to develop sound judgment. The science of biology may be described as the study of living things. In Thornton ' s four well-equipped classrooms students learn of plants and animals, and also of human mechan- isms. Mr. A. C. Brookley heads this depart- ment and under his leadership is disseminated the knowledge which permits a student to un- derstand his natural surroundings better. The Chemistry Department, led by Mr. Fred Ring, enables the student to understand the why, the what, and the wherefore of the world, and the materials of which it is composed. Chemistry is the science of elements and com- pounds, physical and chemical, and their reac- tion to each other. It is the analysis and syn- thesis of matter. Thornton ' s science courses, general science, biology, chemistry, and physics fit the students to live in a better world of tomorrow in a better way. As students study fascinating experiments and facts, they are carried from their labs and classrooms to see scientists such as Priestley, Avogadro, and Pasteur working out problems which changed their world. The students see men working out ways to make the world a better place to live. The bell rings and sud-

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UPra The Social Science Department, headed by Mr. J. F. Zimmerman, with Mr. C. C. Stegmeir taking charge of the history section, includes civics, commercial geography, commercial law, economics, and history. These subjects are important to the person who wishes to have an accurate understanding of the events which are now taking place and which will affect human life from this point on. To become more familiar with future respon- sibilities as voters of this nation, a mock gen- eral election was held last November, at the same time the general election was held through- out the nation. Students were taught the funda- mentals of voting by actually taking part in an election which was run according to law. In planning for the future, the wise person looks to the past to see how other people did the job and how he can improve upon what was done. In this way the several histories offered Thornton students play an important part in their lives. The pupil learns, among other things, how people lived in the past, and thus he may have some idea as to what to expect in the future. Economics and commercial law students learn the more intricate mechanism of state and na- tional governments. Economics help teach pupils how the governments use, collect, and make money, while commercial law explains common law to students so that they will be familiar with the laws used in coping with common occurrences. Commercial geography explains to pupils the advantages and disadvantages of each kind of territory, its natural resources, and its influence. Together, these subjects help the student un- derstand why and how he can make this world a better place in which to live. z- ■j:t

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denly they find themselves back in the class- room; only then are they led to realize how much has been done in chemistry and how much more is to be done by tomorrow. Spectacular advancement has been made in the science of physics during the present war. Chemistry and physics combined have caused to be created and perfected more inventions dur- ing the present war than in any other similar period of time. Electronics, radar, and radionics are three of the outstanding achievements which have come about in the field of physics. The different uses of the gyroscope are also a splendid accomplish- ment of physics. Gyrocompasses, gyropilots, as well as other uses kept secret by the Federal government until after the war, are some of its achievements. Here in Thornton the Physics Department, which is headed by Mr. C. L. Beier, keeps up to date on new phases in the world of physics. The study of physics, year by year, is growing larger, and Mr. Beier predicts that in a short time either the Thornton course in physics will be expanded to a year and one half or to a two-year course, since only the barest funda- mentals can be taught in one year. The physics lab, the place where theory and experiment are tried and proved, is indeed an important part of one ' s learning of physics. After the war when used Army and Navy ma- terial is available to the public, physics labora- tories will be replenished with all the latest material and equipment. Page 2.