The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-11-09

ludl reason lOr the sClOOl exist
ence. frequently less is known In
the community about this phase OF
school work than about any other.
since its achievements are less i'm.
nediately tangible than the results
OF athletic contests, Of musical pro
grams or other more publlcized and
spectacular events. Nevertheless,
the modern and progressive school
establishes first basic curriculum
which Is capable OF expansion and
growth as the school population and
the community situation detaand-
From this basic curriculum new
branches reach out, and the old
three RS, formerly considered the
only necessary ingredients OF a
school program. expand and develop
in step with changing times and
conditions.
The academic program OF the
Ypsilanti High School Is intended
to furnish this basic ground struc-
ture In subject matter which is a
necessary preliminary either to fur
Their study or TO specialization in
some particular field OF work. The
following article attempts TO give
an indication of the variety Of ma
terial included In the high school
curriculum.
In his high school career. each
student take sfive years OF work in
English. The English courses In.
clude the study of grammar. sen
tence structure, composition and
literature. Much use is made OF IL
brary books and magazines for
supplementary reading. The older
students subscribe to the Readers
Digest for part of this reading ma
terial Spelling and story telling
contests in the seventh and eighth
grades are popular events. In the
ninth and tenth grades, declama-
tons are memorized, and the win
ners OF the class contests give their
declarations before the students
In assembly. The eleventh grade
students collect material, write and
present orations. Short story writ
ing Is encouraged through a con-
test held each year, and a contest
In the Interpretation OF lyric poetry
enlivens this part Of the work in
English.
Courses in Dramatics and in
Speech are also given for students
who are interested in these special
fields.
The high school curriculum offers
an opportunity for aspiring journal
lists TO have PRACTICABLE experience
as well as theory. The journalism
class, in addition to the study OF
journalistic methods and tech
niques, puts out the school paper
The Ypsi Sem which appears every
two weeks. This paper has re-
ceived high rating in the state
high school journalism conferences.
The field of history and social
science is perhaps more important
today than ever before. Here again
the use OF current magazines and
recent books, as we'll as textbook
study is encouraged. In the sew
enth grades a foundation Is laid
with a course in world geography
and its historical background
American history is presented in
the eighth grade. Ancient History
and the story Of the ancient peoples
is the work. OF the tenth grade. and
Modern History. from the time OF
Columbus to the present, is the
course offered in the eleventh year.
Advanced American history is
taught in the eleventh and twelfth
years.
In the ninth year an elementary
course in government is offered,
and an advanced half year OF gov
eminent is required in the twelfth
grade. Economics is also required
for one half year in the twelfth
grade.
An unusual outgrowth OF the So
cisl science courses are the many
fine exhibits, displaying costumes
OF a period or OF rscee, or perhaps
a model OF famous monument or
church, with all the details correct
ly supplied by research in connec-
ton with class assignments.
The science program in the high
school offers courses in general
science, biology, chemistry and
grow from such beginnings.
physics. The value Of correct OBJ
servation. of logical thinking and of
the scientific treatment OF a prob
lem are taught along with the &C.
tual knowledge OF certain scientific
facts and processes. Present indus
trial needs as we'll as the demands
OF the military and naval forces
have brought home to many stu
dents the value Of the science
courses.
This same situation exists In re-
gard TO mathematics. This subject
also is indispensable in industry
and In research. Here too the logi-
cal procedure and the mental disci-
pline Of reasoning problem
through to solution are valuable
by.products In the learning process.
Arithmetic. geometry and algebra
are offered in the high school at
the present time. These are neces-
sary for entrance into many fields
of work and at the present time for
entrance into many branches Of the
armed services.
The commercial department in
the high school aims TO tit students
for positions outside school and to
give them a knowledge OF business
fundamentals. The courses which
are offered in this department In
clude half year each OF business
arithmetic and general business
training. These are followed Thy ell
ementary and advanced bookkeep-
ing, shorthand, typewriting. com
mercial geography. and business