Bloomington High School, The Gothic, 1928, Page 20

Description:	The course in the first Bloomington High School was merely a continuation of grammar school subjects with the addition of Latin and algebra. In1873, the course was changed to meet the new entrance requirements of IndianaUniversity. The work was given in two years, each divided into three termsof twelve weeks. English, mathematics, and Latin comprised more than three-fourths of the work. Geography, United States history, bookkeeping, andbrief exercises every day in penmanship and spelling constituted the remainder.None of the subjects was elective, and there were no extra-curricular activities.The sole purpose of the High School was to prepare students for enteringIndiana University.In 1886, the course was lengthened to three years. More than one-thirdof the time was given to Latin; the other subjects were mathematics, English,history, government, geography, bookkeeping, physiology, zoology, and natural philosophy. The school was then serving both as a preparatory department of the University and as a City High School.The school started its independent career as the City High School in1885. The work was given in a nine months course instead of in threetwelve weeks terms. In the new course, three years each of English, Latinand mathematics, and one year each of general history, biology, and physicswere given. The first four year course was offered in 1894. One elective subject was offered in the same year. English, mathematics and Latin made upthe major part of the curriculum.Foreign languages have always had an important part in the curriculumof Bloomington High School. Latin has always been a major subject but hasgradually lost prominence. Only within recent years has it been possible tograduate without at least two years of Latin. French and German were introduced in 1903. French was discontinued but reintroduced in 1912. Germanwas dropped during the World War but was reinstated in 1927.A commercial course, introduced in 1913, now offers varied training inbusiness methods.Domestic science was instituted in 1916. It is now a large department ofthe school, having two well-equipped kitchens, two sewing rooms and runninga cafeteria, which supplies meals to students and teachers at a small cost. Aprinting shop, established in the same year, has grown to be an importantdepartment of the school. Besides teaching the printing trade, it does most ofthe school printing, including the printing of the Optimist, the school paper.A course relating to the stone industry was introduced in 1923. A specialbuilding is now being erected to house this department. A course in automechanics with a repair shop maintained by the School was added in the sameyear. The vocational department was further enlarged by the establishmentof a four year agricultural course in the following year and a new course incabinet-making and carpentry in 1926.In recent years, the curriculum has been changed greatly; new courseshave been arranged for those-who do not wish to go to college. There arenow four courses in Bloomington High School: academic, commercial, domesticscience, and vocational. The freedom of election of subjects by the student isa marked characteristic of all these courses.Page Twenty
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloom/id/3329
Collection:	Bloomington High School

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