Physical Geography. Regularly a ninth year subject. Time: 7 or 8 periods per week.
First Term.
A study of land forms based on field excursions to points easily accessible afoot or on the street cars. Soil formation and conservation. A study of the physical features of California with their economic consequences, particularly the determination of the routes of railroads, the choice and construction of harbors, quartz and placer gold mining, the development of water power and long-distance electric transmission, lumbering, irrigation, agriculture, horticulture, etc. Tarr’s New Physical Geography, pages 13–172, liberally supplemented by the use of reference books, lantern slides, relief models and topographic maps. Wright’s Manual of Physical Geography.
Second Term.
A study of the simpler elements of weather and climate based on astronomic and other observations and on certain physical and chemical experiments. A study of the great wind belts of the world and regions of excessive, moderate, or deficient rainfall, locating each regionally in the continents. The climatic regions of the United States with particular reference to temperatures, prevailing winds, and rainfall—each as modified by physiographic features and by large bodies of water. A regional study of the United States with particular reference to milling, stock feeding, dairying, slaughtering and packing, iron, coal, lumber. Centers of manufacture with a consideration of methods and lines of transportation both by land and sea, particularly of the transcontinental lines which reach the Pacific Coast. Possible changes on the Pacific Coast due to the opening of the Panama Canal. Tarr’s New Physical Geography, pages 1–12 and 173–430, supplemented by the use of reference books, individual full-mounted globes, wall maps, weather maps, and excursions to the Chabot Observatory and the United States Weather Bureau. Wright’s Manual of Physical Geography.
Botany. Regularly a tenth year subject; but may be taken in the ninth year. Time: 8 periods per week, including double laboratory periods. Laboratory and recitation periods are arranged to suit the topic under consideration.
The text used in Bergen’s Essentials of Botany. In the main, the order of topics as there given is followed. More experiments in plant physiology are taken than are outlined in the text, and some time is devoted to the study of oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and carbon, including the chemistry of combustion. About 24 weeks are devoted to the study of seed plants, and 18 weeks to spore plants. Enough time is devoted to the study of the classification of seed plants to enable a pupil to use a key readily. An herbarium is not required; but the necessary instruction is given, and the pupil is encouraged in the preparation of one if he shows interest in this kind of work. In the study of spore plants particular attention is given to bacteria, yeasts and molds in their relation to household affairs.
Zoology. Regularly an eleventh year subject. Time: 7 or 8 periods per week, including double laboratory periods. It is expected that only one class will be organized in each year, this class to begin with the fall term.
First Term.
Invertebrate zoology, with comparative study of typical forms, e. g., amoeba, paramoecium, sponge, hydra, sea-anaemone, starfish, earthworm, shrimp, crab, etc. Special attention is given to beneficial and injurious insects.