Waterloo High School - Rosebud Yearbook (Waterloo, IN)

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THE ROSEBUD 13 ENGLISH English is the most important subject in tin High School curriculum. Ability to understand the printed page and power to express one’s thoughts in correct language are necessary in order to succeed in other studies. Literature appeals to the imagination and the emotions, and stimulates mental activity. One who is familiar with the thoughts and ideals expressed in English Litera- ture will get more out of life than one who is not. The four years’ course in English is arranged as follows: First year, review of Grammar and Elements of Rhetoric; Second year, continue Rhetoric, with frequent exercises in oral and written composition; Third year, History of American Literature; Fourth year. History of English Literature. We learn to appreciate literature not so much by reading about literature as by reading the literature itself; to this end a carefully selected list of classics is provided for each class. Frequent themes train the students in writing correct language. Memorizing choice gems of thought from the masters of literature forms an- other phase of the work. Each student is required to give a review of some selected book. An effort is made to correlate English with other subjects, especially History, because it has influenced Literature to a great extent. Exercises in Current Events, besides training students in oral composition, lead toward the reading and studying of the history that is being made daily. HISTORY History has two chief purposes—first, it promotes culture, and second, it has a practical value in teaching the progress and mistakes of the past as a guide to the future. Never was a knowledge of history so essential to the average citizen as it is today. No one can thoroughly understand the present European struggle without a knowledge of the history of Europe in the nineteenth century. No one can thoroughly understand the statement of President Wilson, when he says: “The world must be made safe for democ- racy,” without a knowledge of the struggle of civilized man for freedom thru the past centuries brought to us thru the pages of history. Our course of study follows closely the outline planned by the State Board of Education. In the Sophomore year tin pupil begins tin study of Ancient History by a study of the most ancient nations leading to about 800 A. D., with special emphasis on Greek and Roman History. The Mediaeval and Modern European periods are studied in tin Junior year. The work covers thoroughly the growth and spread of Christianity, the origin of our institutions of government, the development of tin modern nations and the growth of democracy thruout the world. The Seniors study American History in the first half of the year and Civics the last half. The effort is made to give the student a comprehensive view of our great nation and government and a devotion to the nation’s ideals.

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MISS MABEL DEUBENER Second •v MISS FLORENCE BERRY Primary

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14 THE ROSEBUD FOREIGN LANGUAGE There are many advantages to be gained from studying a foreign lan- guage: as the principles of grammar are essentially the same in all languages, the study of Latin or German in High School serves to familiarize the student with English grammar. The vocabulary of tin average Freshman is naturally limited, and nothing serves to broaden it and furnish a supply of synonyms as well as the study of another language. At least sixty per cent of the words in the English language are derived from Latin: this alone would justify studying Latin in High Schools. Since French, Spanish and Italian are but modernized forms of Latin, the High School Latin furnishes a foundation for the study of any or all of these. The terms used by professional men— doctors, pharmacists, lawyers, etc., are in great part Latin. Much information of historical interest is learned from translating the writings of the ancient Romans. The greatest benefit, however, is that it teaches pupils to think. One cannot t: an date correctly without think- ing of case, number, tense, voice, etc. When a vocabulary gives several English equivalents of one Latin verb, the student must choose the one best adapted to the sentence—thus the judgment is trained. The first year’s work in either language consists of memorizing the de- clensions and conjugations, acquiring a vocabulary, and translating simple exercises. During the second year Caesar's Gallic War is translated. The great resemblance between Ariovistus and his descendant. Wilhelm II. has made “The War With Ariovistus” especially interesting this year. Exercises in Prose Composition once each week train the student to translate English into Latin. As only a few desired to study Cicero's Orations this year, that course was omitted. The study of German is not being emphasized this year, and will not be offered next year, but it was thought best to allow those who had begun it last year to have an opportunity to complete their language requirement in that language. MATHEMATICS One and one-half years are given to Algebra. The purpose in view is cor- rectness of thinking and accuracy in action. Mathematics teaches one to be exact, not part of the time and only in some places, but all the time in all places. If the pupil is preparing for higher education, Algebra is required as a basis for more advanced work. If he goes into business the training will lead him to be more exact and clear in his everv-day thinking. Geometry is offered in the last half of the Sophomore year and during the Junior year, the work including five books of Plane and three of Solid. The study of Geometry is such that it will lead the student to recognize and com- prehend mathematical construction of various objects round about him. The work with lines, angles, polygons, etc., in Plane Geometry, and planes, cubes, spheres, prisms, etc., in Solids, give concrete problems in Mensuration, while