Valparaiso High School - Valenian Yearbook (Valparaiso, IN)

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“Friend or foe?” wonders junior speech student during pantomime. Mastery of oral and written communications is the total purpose of our English courses. Mastering the essentials of composition, underclassmen struggled through short themes, punctuation and capitaliza- tion exercises. Second semester brought a challenge comprehending Great Expectations and the Odyssey for freshmen, and Silas Marner and Julius Caesar for sophomores. English took on a new aspect for juniors as they started practicing the proper public speaking. To apply their new speaking abilities, the juniors staged the Speech Banquet. In literature they studied American writers for the first time. Seniors surveyed English literature. Finally, in preparation for college, seniors completed the well-known term paper for advanced composition. English teachers included Miss Audrey Shauer, Miss Margaret Nelson, Mrs. Linda Bixler, Mrs. Evelyn Conkling, Mrs. Mary Edna Bowman, and Mr. Olen Griesbaum, Mr. Roy Brown, and Mr. Burton Conkling. Jets, rockets— VHS, foreign languages? Yes, present day events have had their effects on VHS: our foreign language department has assumed greater importance. Two years each of Latin, German, and Spanish were offered this year. Roman culture, dress, and language were taught in Latin through some readings from the Odyssey, Aeneid, and Caesar’s Gallic Wars. Frequent oral recitation and translation exercises gave students an introduction to spoken German. By the end of the course German novels and newspapers were part of the students’ reading material. Not only were Spanish customs studied throughout the year, but also a “south of the border” atmosphere was created in Spanish classes by posters, newspapers, and pinatas. Teaching these foreign languages were Mr. Robert Hummel, Mrs. Dolores Bauer, and Miss Florence Craig. Mrs. Ruth Froberg substituted for Miss Craig during her illness. 6

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. . . Where We Spend l A of Each Day. . . “To eat or not to eat, that is the question.”

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Language — The Basis of Modern Education Caesar stumps another Latin class. Spanish ads add modern touch to modern language. » -