Virden High School - Kennel Yearbook (Virden, IL)

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SCIENCE CLASSES This year we have two biology classes of sixty students under the instruction of Mr. Crull. Some students ask why they should study bio- logy. Here are a few of the reasons why all students should study to determine how living things move, grow, feel, or escape enemies and disease. Ignorance of biology has ruined farms, has made houses ex- pensive, and has caused streams to overflow their banks or fill costly reserviors with silt. Rules of biology will help us stop these losses, turning waste lands into profitable woods, keeping water in the ground and making soil richer than it is today. Biology helps men to choose a place to live, grows fine crops for him, guides him in his choice of food and provides the principles of good health. As a vocational course it provides employrnent for an ever-increasing number of technical scien- tists. People are always trying to find out what things mean and science will make the world mean more to the students. For instance, in general science we learn the meanings of scientific words so the students can read stories about science from newspapers and magazines and under- stand them. General science can do much to show the student how to think. As we do experiments and exercises we have' an opportunity to do clean-cut careful thinking. Some experiments we do in class and some we do at home. These help us to understand and remember the important ideas of the lessons. In the Chemistry classes this year we have thirty-seven students . This is the smallest number in chemistry for several years, but those taking it are interested and are working hard to receive all the value possible from it. In chemistrywe learnhowthe common substances such as coal, air, and water have been made by the chemist into such things as dyes, drugs, textiles and plastic substances each of which may help, in some way to make our existance more enjoyable. We learn that our bodies are chemical factories, and also about life saving drugs. We study metals and alloys and how they help our countryto have the highest standard of living in the world. PHYSICS The major units of Mechanics, Heat, Sound, Light, and Electricity in Physics were covered during the term 1948-49. Emphasis was placed upon practical application of the fundamental laws, and concepts-appli- cation of these principals to the objects with which the student is fami- liar. For instance, hydraulic apparatus, mirrors, thermometers, elec- tric lights, motors, etc. The Physics class repaired the electric scoreboard for the school. They also plan a field trip to Sangamo-Electric to see the source of the theory of electricity in operation. Also a unit is being studied covering the Atomic Energy development to enable the student to understand bet- ter what is happening in the field today and what could possible in the future. An admired accomplishment of the Physics class was the light- ing and construction ofa large star for the school's decorations at Christ- mastime. Congratulations from FRANK SMITH CITIES SERVICE 41

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AGRICULTURE - FUTURE FARMERS This year the agriculture classes initiated fourteen newmembers into the FFA with the total enrollment of twenty-nine members . The five offi- cers and Mr. Herbst went to Winchester on September Z7 to the Leader- ship Training School. There were two judging teams so there were grain and poultryjudgments at Carrollton. There was dairy and fat stock teams judging inMay at Jerseyville. They also hope to judge in the state contest at Urbana in June. Last .Tuly fourteen of the Ag.members showed live stock at the Green County Fair at Carrollton. They won over S500 in prize money. On November 14-17, they had seven boys go to the Twentieth Anniversary Convention of the FFA at Kansas City, Missouri. The boys were: Les- ter Royer, Edwin Walkington, Warren Carney, John Miller, Donald Jones, Howard Lomolino, Tom Reichert, and Mr. Herbst. The transportation was furnished by the Waverly school bus. Four of the members of the gilt committee and Mr. Herbst went to the Illinois Yorkshire Association sale at Springfield. There they bought a registered Yorkshire gilt. The gilt committee reached the decision to give the gilt to Donald Brawner. They did this after careful considera- tion of the facilities of the six boys who had stated that they would like to have the gilt. PHYSICAL EDUC AT ION The girls physical education classes are under the direction of Mrs. Gerlach. They are instructed in the fundamentals of playing basketball, volley ball, indoor and outdoor baseball, and exercises. During the win- ter, the girls play and exercise in the gyrng and in the spring and fall, they play baseball on the campus' baseball diamond. The classes in physical education training are well organized to balance the more stren- uous outdoor exercises with those of less physical-effort mostly held in the gymnasimn. RALPH BLALOCK CO., Inc. - RESTAURANT 8: JANITOR SUPPLIES 819-821 East Adams Street Springfield, Illinois 43