William Chrisman High School - Gleam Yearbook (Independence, MO)

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sider that art so closely and intimately allied with writing- speaking. Two years ago, a public speak- ing class was made a part of the curriculum of our school. It Was immediately placed under the direction of Miss Northern, the debate coach. Since that time the class has been amply filled every semester. The purpose of this Cl3.SS is to p1'8p3.I'6 the Slflldellll M155 NIARQAKE-r CHILES Miss IANIE CHILES Miss RUTH Brniwi' to face 3 group calmly and to Dam,-,fig A,-1 Mnthemzziirs Glrlx Physical lfducallorz instill in him the presence of mind to enable him to speak in- telligently and interestingly in any emergency. The social sciences are taught . in high school to trace the de- velopment of nations, governi- ments, races, by combining the study of literature and the social sciences, we will see what effect social, political, and industrial conditions have upon the minds of men, and in no fewer cases Will We See how the Writings 01 IVILSSXQFALLON MR. D. C. ELLIOTT Mn. Aucusi' Emxiiua In men affected greatly the history Cmmem, PWM Chemmw of the world. The underlying purpose for the presentation of these subjects is to show that cer- tain causes always have certain effects and that certain effects are always the result of cer- tain causes. Instructors in this field are Mr. John Blackmore, Mrs. Asenath Schroeder, Miss Mary Alice Gibbons, Miss Mary Lucas, Miss Nora Ames, Miss Louise McDonald, and Mr. Joseph Biter. In ancient and medieval history are studied the rise and fall of the ancient empires as shown by the ruins of the symbols of their civilization. i Since few of the pupils have bf-H privileged to travel, it would in many instances be somewhat diflicult to present the material in an interesting manner g we wish to take this opportunity to thank the instructors for their very successful attempts in this regard. In the study of modern history the four great periods are the Renaissance, beginning the Modern Age, the Age of Autocracy, the Great Revolutions against its despotism and in- humanity, through chaos into the present Age of Democracy. Whether or not it was mad- ness to cherish those hopes which sprang into the hearts of men at the end of the Great Revolutions the next months will definitely reveal. Never before has democracy declined so much and so quickly. The final history course offered is American history, in which study the rapid develop- ment of the American nation is traced from the time that Columbus first set foot upon the American continent and claimed it in the name of the King of Spain, to the political and industrial struggles of the present time. The cause of all trouble in the past and present in this country has been lack of cooperation, and the periods of greatest progress have been characterized by the presence of this elusive yet essential state of sympathy l5io1.oGY.CLAss, Room 216 Pug! 21

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English, H ixiory MR GEORGE BERKEMEIER MR. LIOSEPH BITER MR. IOHN BLACKMORE TI-IE FACULTY CLASSROOM NOTES ' The study of our native tongue, English, is the foundation upon which all other subjects are based. English is the medium through which all other subjects are absorbed and assimilated. A Mn. O. L. ATHEY Miss ET!-iEL BENFIELD - ur Own Ml S NORA D' AMES Commerce Mathematic: thorough knowledge of O language is the best possible means to succeed in mastering other branches of learning. Since the importance of the study Of English is recognized by those in charge of the decision of necessary subjects, at least three years of English are specified. Miss Ellen Singleton, Miss Emina Hill, Miss Nora Ames, Miss Mabel Potter, Miss Louise MacDonald, Miss Esther Irene Layton, Miss Harriet Northern, and Mr. Dale Pigg conduct f!g'ricuItzn'e Social Scimzms History Classes in subject' The course of study in sophomore English comprises both literature and rhetoric. In this course the student is introduced more fully to the most delightful and interesting authors in the English language. The most intent purpose is to implant firmly in the consciousness of the students the proper use of words and the construction of interesting, effective sentences. In the junior English course literature is emphasized more intensely than the study of rules governing composition and sentence structureg in this course the student is given to prove his knowledge and understanding of such rules in writing original essays and themes. The masterpieces of American authors are studied, as well as the conditions which influenced the philosophy of those men and women. The course in senior English is purely elective. Probably one half of the students who this year signed for a course in English Literature did so because of the ability and charm of the young lady who teaches this class, Miss Harriet Northern. The classes this year have traced the development of the literature of the English lan- guage from its earliest known beginning, the tale of the great hero, Beowulf, to the present day, through the early ages, which are interesting principally because of their antiquity, one of the most notable exceptions to that statement is Chaucer's Canterbury Tales , through the Elizabethan age with the greatest literary genius of all time, William Shakespeare, watching the change of characteristic from emotion to intellect and back again to emotion, almost as if it were the pendulum of a great clock which ticks away eternities. From the study of the greatest thoughts of the greatest men of all time and a comprehensive study of the rules they have laid down, it seems quite fitting that we should next con- PLANE Geomiirm' CLASS. ROOM 201 Page 20

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between the high and IOW- The succession of events in this study seems much swifter and momentous than in any Other- To secure and possess a broad knowledge of the history of our native land should be of interest to every American. The per- sonal touch which this subject affords every pupil and teacher, MR RAY FRENCH Miss MARY ALICE GIBBONS Miss liminix l-l1LL is highly conducive toward mak- Phy5,6,1Edum,j0,, Frmzch, Social Sczclzcci' Zrzsgllsh ing this study one of the most absorbing of our entire curricu- lum. Another of the subjects in which we should be very much interested is sociology. In a study of this subject we are made to realize our responsibilities and duties as members of society. The civics department is one in which numerous situations and questions arise which in- crease the ability to think for oneself. This course is essential 'VIR CHARLES I-IUHN Miss Esrx-ian IRENE LAYTQN Miss MARY Lucas A U Social Sczeizces, Hygiene Englixh , Social SCIVCVZCEJ to 9VeI'y 3,1'I1b1'f,10U,S Student. The study of economics at this particular period of our history would be a worthwhile, indeed, a vitally necessary subject to know, not to solve the present financial status by means of anew and previously unheard of method or experiment, but because -it is reasonable to believe that if the people generally knew more about the laws of production and distribution, labor and capital, man and machine, everyone would be better fitted individually to do his part to relieve the present stress g and if individually prepared, we could present an unbroken, national front in our war against depression. This year there was such a large demand for entry into the physics classes that instead of the usual single teacher, Mr. D. C. Elliott, two teachers conducted classes in this subject. Mr. Earl Page this year added the instruction of physics to his already broad budget of work in William Chrisman High School. Physics is an essential part ofthe education part of a well-rounded person. The purpose of teaching physics in high school is to present elementary physics in such a way as to stim- ulate the pupil to do some thinking on his own account about the 'how's' and 'why's' of the physical world in which he lives. The metric system of the measurement of volumes, weights, and lengths is thoroughly learned and frequently applied. The fundamentals of light, sound, heat, and mechanics are explained and studied. A course such as this makes it possible for the student to better understand the principles and motives of the machines which he daily uses for comfort or convenience, to more fully appreciate the phenomena among which he has been settled, and through a fuller understanding of the influ- ences which govern our lives, live a happier and better life. Although there were but two chem- , CHEMISTRY CLASS, ROOM 303 Przgz'