Weequahic High School - Legend Yearbook (Newark, NJ)

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Foreign Language Department: The department of Foreign Languages plays a key role in the life of Weequahic High School. Over half of the student population is enrolled in at least one of the six languages taught; many students study more than one. The most popular language, French, is taught by Mesdames Glucksman ct Misurell, Mesdamoiselles Megaro et Griffin, et Messieurs Bauer, Gobeille, et Del Visco; Monsieur Morris Brenman is the chairman of the department and teaches the seventh and eighth terms of French. Extra-curricular activities stemming from the French language involve the French club, Le Cercle Francais, the French Conversation club and the French Affiliation club, I,'Affiliation du Lycee Mixte du Rainey. The work of this group is well-known to the student body, for this is the organization that was instrumental in arrang’ng the foreign exchange program which sent Susan Arons to LeRaincy, France and brought Alaine Jean-Marie Daniel Bourdeau de Fontenay here. The second language is Spanish, taught by Senora Birnbaum, Senoritas Patton y Griffin, y Senor Freidberg. Six semesters of work are offered in this language with the Spanish Honor Society offering membership to students who have achieved a certain level of success in that language. Honor courses in these two languages are offered for students who have excelled in their work, although the classes do not always achieve their goals. German is a language that appeals to those contemplating careers in science. It is taught by Frau Misurell and offers four

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 The Library: Established in September, 1933, our library has grown to 8,500 school owned volumes, plus about 1,000 public library books here on indefinite loan. In addition, wc have the tremendous resources of the Main Library available to us upon request through a weekly delivery to the school. Our library has been made the beneficiary of several gifts, most notably the memorial collection established by relatives and friends of the late Judge William M. Untermann. This fund has already purchased hundreds of books on American life and history. We have a mathematics collection in memory of Saul Seid and a science collection in memory of Mrs. Elsie S. Roux, both former teachers in our school. Our first principal, Mr. Max Herzberg, donated approximately 800 books; and Helen G. Stevenson, former head of the social studies department, gave us a collection of history textbooks. The Board of Education gives the library an annual appropriation of about $1.35 per pupil for the purchase of books and magazines. In addition, the library serves as a center for research and enrichment materials such as motion pictures, filmstrips, phonograph records, and tapes. The machines for using these materials are supplied by the library and manned by the student projection staff working under the librarians. Our very complete collections of college catalogues and vocational and professional literature in books, magazines, and clippings, is used by individual students for personal research. Close co-operation with the guidance department makes this collection especially valuable for interview and study purposes. 27

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semesters of work. Der Deutches Verein, the German club, is its extra-curricular arm. Latin is a language that is diminishing in popularity in Weequahic High. It is taught by Miss Patton and Mrs. Birnbaum with four semesters of work involved. The Latin Advanced Reading club offers advance instruction in Latin for those who have completed two years of Latin but wish to continue their studies in that ancient tongue. Another activity, the Latin club, encourages novice students. The birth of Israel brought Hebrew to our school. Mn Simon Chasen teaches the four terms of Hebrew' that are offered, and also advises the Hebrew club, which concentrates on the cultural heritage of Hebrew. The newest language to be added to the curriculum is Russian, taught by the ubiquitous Mr. Chasen. (Mr. Chasen, a native of Russia, has also been teaching Russian to teachers in the Newark schools system as an in-service course.) The Greek and Swahili classes are new at Weequahic Although Greek is not offered in the curriculum a class in ancient Greek is given after school hours to those interested in Greek. Started as a language experiment, the Sw-ahili class, which also meets after school, teaches this African tongue to a few, select students. Both groups are under the direction of the multi lingual Mr. Chasen. To enable students to further their language study, Weequahic offers the use of language laboratories. The only ones in the city, this means of language education allows students to improve both pronunciation and comprehension. Lawrence J. Del Viaco