Western Military Academy - Recall Yearbook (Alton, IL)

Page 20 text:

THE CLUB 400 WESTERN’S ACADEMIC HONOR SOCIETY Front Ho ' ( tejt to right) Gilbert. Jansky, Capt. Malone, sponsor, Koch, R., Silverman, R. Second Ro w — Rudman, .Moser, Maddox, Koch, E., Crandall, I)., Cannady, R o be r t A., Lyon. Top Row — Pazdera, Mulcahy, Silverman, P., Ruyle, Proctor, Crandall, K., Schwartz, Marshak. THE ACADEMIC YEAR This year, as always, the academic department was the very foundation of school life at Western. There were sports, trips, activities, social life, military work, and lots of fun and toil, but classes and the idea ol getting a sound education stood first. Lt. Col. Per- sing, Headmaster, assembled the finest faculty that the Academy has known in recent years. However, one link was missing. Maj . W. J. Buck, who taught Latin and German and built character for thirty- eight years,- was forced to retire because of bad health. He was greatly missed, though his classes were ably taught by Capt. Malone and Mrs. Clark. Academic morale hit a new high this year. Interest in classes was very noticeable, and the competition lictween individuals ami barracks was very keen. The prize to the winner of the barracks competition was permission for all cadets in that building to study in their rooms both day and night. The race for the salutatorian of the Senior Class was especially note- worthy. It was not known until near the end ol the year who would win that honor. Capt. Martin did his usual excellent job with the Junior-Senior speech program. Every memlier of those cl asses had to deliver a speech in assembly in order to gain public speaking experience. The idea frightened some cadets, but they found that it was a helpful and even enjoyable project. Cadets, especially the Seniors, were given various tests during the year to discover weaknesses, apti- tudes, and to become familiar with tests that they would be likely to have in colleges. Purdue Place- ment Tests, American Psychological Tests, College Board Tests, and many others were taken. In the Senior Class, definite efforts were made to lift the students up to the college level, as practically all of them were aiming at college careers. — 16 —

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HERE AND THERE WITH FACULTY Top — 1. Col. Baudouine, PMST, in office. 2. Capt. Sims inspects room. Middle— . Capt. Rumley. 2. Capt. Naxera finds dust. 3. Capt. Sutton and (4) Capt. Malone flash smiles. Bottom — 1. Capt. Council and Lieut. Lamb. 2. Col. Jackson in office. 3. Col. Persing: “So you want to change your course '

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Some of us will never enter a Western classroom again, but we shall always have warm memories of our academic experiences. We wish to thank and salute the entire faculty of the Academy for their gu idance, patience, and understanding during our careers as cadets. We feel sure that we are w r ell equipped tor the future, no matter what it is, and we think of our teachers not only as instructors, but as friends. BELOW 1. Benson explains taxi- dermy at science lair. 2. Dcwein holds crowd spellbound with senior speech. ABOVE 1. Cadets go to classes. 2. Capt. Naxera teaches business and means business. 3. Silverman, Barbie, Ben- jamin enjoy Capt. Lange’s science class. And now the year is coming to a close. It seems like only yesterday that we walked into our first classes at Western. We received courtesy and understanding from our instruc- tors, and, more than that, an ap- preciation of education and the in- centive to learn. And along with instruction, there came character building. We feel that we have been associated with fine men who were interested in our welfare.