West Chester University - Serpentine Yearbook (West Chester, PA)

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SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT A European map study A cheery Good morning, everybody introduces the West Chester student to the Department of Social Studies. Soon after this introduction the student realizes that this department is endeavoring to help him discover the meaning of history by inter- preting for him the influence of historical events. Whether it be in sociology, economics, or American government, the student feels that the instructors are sincere in their efforts to make the Social Studies work on this campus of some direct and immediate value. Present day events are linked repeatedly to past occurrences which hove influenced them. Opinions are freely exchanged by pupils and instructors. Both groups derive benefits. This department not only provides interesting classes for those students who have adopted Social Studies as their major field, but it also sponsors active club work in which modern social problems are discussed very informally. Thus this department attempts not only to depict the historical past but also to make present history a vital problem. SOCIAL STUDIES DEPAklMtNF Mr. Swope, Dr. Healhcote, Mr Ande Tv enty-seven

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FRENCH AND LATIN Sound your vowel Although courses in Latin and French hove been included for a long time in the general curriculum of the college, within the last six years, under the direction of Dr. Staley and Miss Geyer, they have been developed so that they offer both specialization for teaching and rich content. With this aim West Chester has increased her content courses to tv enty-four semester hours of French and eighteen hours of Latin, exclusive of the required student teaching and beyond the high school preparation upon v hich these courses are built. Both Dr. Staley and Miss Geyer have planned activities in this department so that the students may have additional experiences. From a shelf of a few text books the library facilities have grown until now they enable the students to prepare special projects, to correlate their work with English courses, to investigate modern trends in teaching, and to enrich their literary experiences by reading masterpieces not always included in class room discussion. FRLNCH AND LATIN Dr. Staley, Miss Geyer. Tv enty-six

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MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT No flare of bugles or startling announcement ever brings the Mathematics Depart- ment to our attention, and yet we are always aware of its presence and influence on campus. Compasses, protractors, transits, yardsticks, and graph paper as well as other mathematical tools beckon to the students in the secondary curriculum who adopt mathe- matics as one of their fields. A complete study in mathematics is offered to these individuals. Introductory college courses in algebra form a basis for higher mathematics. Study progresses into trigonometry, solid and analytical geometry, surveying, and several teaching methods courses. All students of the elementary curriculum take several courses in this department. The purpose of these courses is to help develop successful teachers who have a keen knowledge of subject matter. Such preparation changes the teaching of arithmetic from a difficult, dreaded task to a pleasant, stimulating part of their work. Under the guidance of the group of three who are teachers in this department, students develop skill both in teaching the various phases of this subject and in applying the acquired knowledge to their own needs. il 1 ' ' ' 1 1 | 4 i H mM i MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT Dr. R. Anderson, Miss Bull, Miss Holland. Twenty-eight