The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-10-29
English Course At Ris-
ing Sun High School

= Members OF the Senior class at the
Risig Sun High School are being fur-
nished the opportunity of keeping IN
contact with the trends evidenced
nv a world at war through the sys-
tematic classroom use OF materials
pointedly relating to the up-to-tne-
minute affairs the globe over. AS q
basic text in English classes, The
Readers Digest" is serving as
starting point in oral and written
discussions on problems facing the
United States and the United Ma
tions today.
Basing it's aim on the advice OF
many military and civilian leaders,
the school administrator, Principal
william C. Graham, Jr., and the
English Department, headed by Miss
Eva p. Nutter and Mr.. George b.
Prettyman, launched this English
program last year, and won the APP
prevail of State Educational authori-
ties, 1t is intended that those pupils
meeting the requirements OF the
course in Senior English be well-in-
formed in the political, social, econo-
mic and religious trends that are
moving our nation and others toward
the postwar world, as well as in the
patterns along the same lines that
are concommittant with the war.
In addition to planned work from
1.-THE Readers Digest" the pupils
are offered the opportunity of study
ing together the novels, poems,
speeches, editorials and expository
articles in other publications, books,
magazines and newspapers.
Generally speaking, the reaction
of the class that was graduated last
June to this project was favorable
and gratifying. Sharpened reading
skills, increased vocabulary, improv-
ed conversational ability, improved
ability in written expression and in
informal public address, the using
of better English-these were some
of the definite goals attained. Add
to that, a better informed group OF
young men and women and you have
a brief picture of the outcomes OF
this class in Information"
Equally fortunate are the lower
classes in their opportunities Tor
gaining current literary tastes, for
the County Board of Education has
nut into this school one of the latest
series Of anthologies, stressing the
living literature that fits modern in
terests of the younger pupils. Ac-
counts of famous fliers, sports he
roes, scientists of note, artists, must
cians-the men and women who are
giving America and the world their
best-are brought before the boys
and girls as inspiration and informa-
ton sources. Students Of American
: Literature are getting some OF the
great American heritage in the art
Of writing, with the thought in mind
for the American Way of Life. The
social science classes correlate this
work with the English studies
through use of Scholastic. One
half period weekly, in the first and
second years, the classes read silent
ly through articles from "Scholas-
tic" which present interesting side
lights through short stories, etc. The
more dificult articles are read aloud
and discussed.
Supplementiung these English
courses is the library, containing
some 1900 volumes, the majority Of
these being in the travel, current
history, biography, autobiography,
and fiction fields. 1t has been rough
ly estimated that the average pupil
reads five worthwhile books from
this library uer wear.