Weequahic High School - Legend Yearbook (Newark, NJ)

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English Department: Since an understanding of the English language is a prerequisite to success in one’s chosen career, English is a required course for all students in all patterns. This department helps the student develop his ability to communicate, both in writing and in speaking, to read with comprehension and discrimination and to listen intelligently, interpret what is said, analyze the facts presented, and synthesize the ideas offered. Through some excellent teachers, it attempts to acquaint the pupil with literature that will give him a knowledge of his cultural history and American heritage, and 10 help him to form his convictions and ideals. By introducing a variety of topics into classroom discussions, the English department strives to improve social attitudes and behavior patterns, with emphasis on better human relationship, service to society, and pride in the democratic institutions of life. Headed by Miss Janet McKenzie, this department offers a variety of courses that appeal to the interests and needs of the students. An honors course is now available to those students who have shown aptitude in the English language and in English literature. Th;s course is comparatively new to our school, having been started only three years ago. The honors course delves more deeply

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Bernstein, now principal of Livingston High School, and Dr. David Wcingast, now Assistant Superintendent of Schools in charge of secondary education in the city of Newark. Mr. Epstein’s bible-reading is followed by the traditional Lord's Prayer. As a student steps up to the microphone and begins to recite an appropriate poem, the flag is carried to the stage by a member of the Honor Society, accompanied by a color guard. The flag salute is duly chorused and our national anthem is sung. Now that the introductory exercises are completed, the students may resume their seats, and the actual program commences. The assemblies are conducted by the officers of the Orange and Brown Association, and are supervised by Mrs. Weinstein of the English Department. Diversified programs arc presented to interest every type of student. Their subject matter may range from pure entertainment to student debates on current events to speeches by prominent members of the community. To the chagrin of most students, all assembly periods must come to an end. When the alloted hour is over and the passing bell rings, the students file slowly out of the auditorium and trudge back to their homerooms to retrieve their books. At the ringing of another bell, they proceed to their first period classes, taking some solace in the knowledge that on assembly days periods are only thirty-five minutes long. The preliminaries are over, the day begins in earnest. As likely as not, the first class is English . . . 9

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Leonard L. Gross Hannah G. Litzky into the subject-matter than the average English class and offers the students the opportunity to advance rapidly. As in other advanced courses, the Honors English students receive special marking considerations. The three publications of Wccquahic High School, the Calumet, Ergo, and Legend arc advised respectively by Mr. Heck, Mr. Hcndlcr, and Mr. Tumin, all members of the English Department. What does the English Department have planned for the future? It is contemplating an English Honor Society, to stimulate even more achievement; a Critics Club whose function would be to review plays, books, movies, and to inform the student body through the school paper as to their findings; and more audio visual aids to be used in the classroom. A Literary club has already been inaugurated. For those students having difficulty with the English language or with speech, developmental reading and remedial speech are available. Members of the department are keenly aware of their special responsibility in introducing parts of the world’s greatest literature to relatively raw minds. It is their hope that the student will keep on with his reading. TV and movies get duller, the flesh gets weaker, but the good books last forever.