Valparaiso High School - Valenian Yearbook (Valparaiso, IN)

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S) a THE MANUAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT. ]HE Manual Training Department of the V. H. S., established by the alumni in 1908, is one that we can be proud of. Mr. Wallace had charge of it the first two years, and although he labored under many difificulties, because of the work being new, he started the ball rolling very smoothly. From 1910 to 1913 Mr. Davis had charge of the department. He was a very com- petent instructor and good pieces were turned out under his direetior. In 1913 Mr. Ira Spear became manual training instructor. Mr. Spear is liked by all and the dejiartmcnt has continued to thrive and its effi- ciency to increase. At first the manual training room contained only benches and bench tools, but in 1912 two turning lathes and motor power were added and in 1913 the room was enlarged to almost double its former size. Mechanical Drawing was added in 1910. Pupils must now draw a model of the article they choose to make and after it has passed the instructor ' s insiiection they make the article according to their drawing. The night school is another imjiortant feature of the department. There are now about one hundred forty taking the night work. The boys seem to like this work, because they all come of their own will, and j fr. Spear reports that he finds difficulty in making them stop at nine o ' clock. Further, the night school gives the industrious boy who O P Q

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o d MATHEMATICS. TR Hig ' h School possesses such a corps of teaeliers that any pupil may be proud of their efficiency. Supt. Skinkle, head of the Mathematics department, teaches plane and solid geometry and trignometry. He is an instructor of many years ' experience, whose vivid and inter- esting exemplifications of the subject never fail in the class room to receive the closest attention and hence attain the best results. Prof. Blue has charge of the first term ' s geometry and mental arithmetic; his ambition and enthusiasm have been very inspiring. Review arithmetic is in charge of Miss Beck, whose persistency makes her a favorite with all her pupils. The school management was very fortunate when it obtained the services of Principal Jessee. He has charge of all tlie Algebra classes. His tactfulness in liandling his classes and his unbounded energy have been very stimulating to the boys and girls in his department. These four teachers constitute such a staff that we maj ' truly say, And in misfortune ' s dreary hour, Or fortune ' s prosperous gale, ' Twill have a holy cheering power — ' There ' s no such word as fail. ' JOSEPH HAROLD SHAW. r J Q

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Q has uot time to go to school in the day time a chance to pass an enjoy- able evening in a good place. The Manual Training l)ei)artment is a very important part of a school and should be installed in all high schools, for it not only affords a change in work during the day for the regular day i)upil, but it gives him a training with tools. Since most men work with some kind of tools, it is a great advantage for a pupil to get his training while voung. LESLIE CASBON. a DOMESTIC ART. Q HE Domestic Art taught by j Iiss McKinnis aims not only to give the child a i)raetical working knowledge of various stitches and processes in plain sewing and their application to simi)le useful articles, but also to be a helpful i)art of the school curriculum and life and to assist in a better under- standing of social and industrial problems of the world. The work is given to pupils from the first grade up until they are thru High School. In the lower grades the pupils are taught to make simple ai ' tieles for every day use. In the Seventh and Eighth grades, and also in the High School, they are taught the use of the sewing- machine and to make their own clothing. The work is required of all the pupils (especially the girls) in the grades. However, in the High School the pupils in the Scientific L ourse are required to take it, but the pupils in the Latin Covrrse are not required to take it unless they so desire it. The Domestic Art teaches that all manual (or hard work) may serve as a training thru motor activities for the foundation of right habits of thought and action; that this particular phase of manual work ha,s a very practical aspect which is of the greatest importance in stimulating the child ' s mental faculties by arousing the imagination, judgment, will and perceptive ytowers and memory reason. The teaching of Domestic Art always makes a place for the four predominant characteristics of the child nature. Domestic Art does not aim at purely technical skill, but attaining habits of usefulness. It establishes discipline and by repetition develops these habits. Some of the liabits develo]ied are impressions of mental images, nmscular activities, order, neatness, accuracy, self-reliance, truthfulness and diligence. With these fully developed success will surely follow l)v making the pu]iil independent and if need be, to go and earn her own livelihood and make honest, uiiright citizens in the world at large. RUBY YOUNG.