November, 1954
STATE TEACHERS COLLEGE NEWS LETTER
Page Three
EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE
The problem of discipline is one
that faces many a teacher and many
a prospective teacher of today. Baglay
says that ‘Authority is the first condi
tion of effective discipline.” If the
respect be sufficiently strong the
whole problem clears up and the sol
ution is comparatively simple. One of
the greatest crimes one can commit
is to permit children to grow up in a
constant attitude of disrespect for au-
tliority, but the question is how to
assert this authority effectively over
tlie pupils. In order for a teacher to
predominate his class room there must
b e certain characteristics possessed
that are absolutely essential to tliis
end.
Absolute courage is the first essent
ial for the teacher on whom rests the
responsibihty for governing an ele
mentary school of today. The teacher
of today must not only possess that
quality known as tact. It is not neces
sary for one to display his authority
just to emphasize the fact of author
ity. The teacher who brags, storms
and fires up before the occasion de
mands does not possess that quality
known as tact, but the tactful teacher
acts when it is necessary and acts
swiftly and effectively without fear
of the consequences.
Persistence is another characteristic
that a teacher should possess. Many
failures of discipline are due to lack
of persistence. When a teacher lays
down a rule and the pupils break it
just to try the teacher or perhaps
through forgetfulness, in such case the
teacher should give the pupils the
benefit of the doubt once, and only
once. Those of you who have dealt
with children know how hard it is
to deceive them. Children like teach
ers who know and know that they
know their subject matter. Children
can easily detect any attempt to hide
ignorance or to bluff on the part of
the teacher. A teacher who present
his knowledge to the children in a
form that they will understand will
have less trouble with his discipline
than the teacher who is aware of his
deficiences and tries to hide them, or
to bluff his way through.
Teachers must be just. “Be just and
fear not ’ is a good motto for teachers
who wish to have good order. Child
ren like adults will resent injustices.
The teacher who wants good order
must keep her pupils busy for it has
been well said that “Idleness is the
devil s workshop.”
(Reprinted from the State Normal
Banner, March, 1929)
alpha kappa alpha
SORORITY PLEDGES
On September 24, the members of
the Delta Theta Chapter of the Alpha
K^ppa Alpha Sorority were honored
in pledging thirteen Ivy Leaves. It
an inspiring experience expecial-
y for the five neophytes of the Chap-
ter. Persons pledged were; Estella
Blackwell, Evangelelist Brinson, Beu-
/*h Carraway, Margaret Coley, Christ
ie Gardner, Cretchen Hughes, Ros
etta Price, Myrtle Rawles, Elsie Sharp,
Sarah Staton, Shirley Uzzell, Virginia
Washington. The other members in
the Ivy Leaf Club are: Janice Drew,
Doretha Hall, Carlise Hardy, Carolyn
^Ktchell, Marie Sharpless, Shirley Ste-
""Mt, Marva Thomas and Verline Will
iamson.
INVICTUS
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade.
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate.
How charged with punishments the
scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.
A FRESHMAN CHALLENGE
Elizabeth City State Teachers Col
lege is a co-ed institution, but when
it comes to girls participating in phy
sical activities and showing their mot
or skills, only a handfull can be found.
Physical activities involve the co-or-
dination of the body and the brain.
Our school has gone out on the
limb to entertain us during our leisure
time, but some of us refuse to be dis
turbed. Why? Even if you do not
know how to play group or highly or
ganized individual games, encourage
participants t o improve themselves.
Then again you may learn by doing.
“Re-create” yourselves with shuffle-
boards, paddle tennis, table tennis,
checkers, dominoes, social dancing,
solfball and playing cards.
Freshmen, which of these games
can you play? Do you plan to join the
undisturbed or show your iniative and
enthuiasm in supporting the Athletic
Department? The cash-free-results e
qual accuracy, sharpness, the exper
ience as a “good winner” or the ex
perience as a “good loser,” better tim
ing, better judgment, and numerous
other values.
—Yvonne Bland
WITH THE DELTAS
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority open
ed the year’s program with a salute
and welcome to the freshmen of 1954.
Neophytes and prophytes have been
working faithfully since that time
toward their goals for the year.
o
On September 24 Deltas welcom
ed the freshmen ladies with a Barn
Party”. For the barnish effect there
were decorations in many colors and
gay feminine attire. Games were play
ed, songs sung, and everyone had a
rollicking good time.
o
Several new students and a few
old ones were entertained at a tea
given at the home of Soror Elizabeth
Bowser on October 17. Pyramids were
very acti\e for this occasion as they
were also for the party on September
24.
-o
On Friday night. October 29, the
entire student body were entertain
ed at a gala Halloween frolic. Ihe
affair was held in the College^
Gymnasium. ‘
FUTURE TEACHERS ORGANIZE
The P. W. Moore Chapter of Fut
ure Teachers of America held an
election of officers at a meeting held
on September 29. The 1954-55 offic
ers ore: Edgar Pittman, president;
Estelle Simons, vice-president; Queen-
ie Ferebee, secretary; Agnes Shaw, as
sistant secretary; Dorothy Smith, trea
surer; Mary Bynum, librarian; Caro
lyn Everette, historian; Chestine Fos-
que, song leader; Bessie Riddick, as
sistant song leader; Mattie Seward,
chairman of the program committee,
co-workers: Essie Mayo, Daisy Wilk
es, Mary Commander and Gilbertine
Winslow.
Regular meetings of the Chapter
will be held every second and fourth
Tuesday of the month with Dr. S. J.
Johnson as sponsor. All students on
the campus are eligible for member
ship. This year the chapter plans to
make greater progress than in previous
years.
Why not join F. T. A, immediately?
CSPA TO SPONSOR ANNUAL
CONTEST AND MEET
The Columbia Scholastic Press is an
organization for editors of school pub
lications sponsored by Columbia Uni
versity with a governing board of
deans and directors of several schools.
The purposes of these meetings is
to judge the publications of different
newspapers, so that editors and advis
ers will have a clear understanding of
their positions with regard to other
publications. The publications are rat
ed on the basis of the level of accom
plishment as indicated by the issues
at hand.
The 31st Annual Newspaper-Maga-
zine contest is being held this year.
The deadline for newspapers and
news - magazines December 10; for
magazines January 15.
The 31st Annual Convention will be
held at Columbia University March
10-11-12, 1955.
A pessimist is one who makes dif
ficulties of his opportunities; an op
timist is one who makes opportunities
of his difficulties.
—Vice Admiral Mansell, R.N.
COLLEGE — THE MOST INTER
ESTING PLACE IN THE WORLD
When the newness wears off your
first days in college and you settle
down to a familiar routine of classes,
you begin to discover that college is
a most exciting place.
There’s a meeting Monday night,
and on Tuesday night a test is sched
uled. Wednesday night, prayer service;
on Thursday night, a lecture on foot
ball. On Friday night there is a movie
or a “rush party” by a sorority or a
fraternity. Saturday is the day for
the first football game, and you can’t
miss that. By now you have discovered
a member of the opposite sex, so on
Sunday night there’s a date.
College is a fascinating place where
much learning occurs outside the class
room, but this exciting new learning
must be experienced with discretion.
It is like sampling new perfumes. You
must learn how to discriminate.
Here are some markers: I. Choice
may be a response to outer pressure,
or it may express your own individ
uality. Choose that which corresponds
to and fulfills inner urges and needs
of your own being. 2. Choose alterat
ion, variation and correlation. Make
a balanced whole out of your learn
ing experiences for a year. 3. Find
depth in college living. You can learn
in college to grow into rich mature
living.
Fellow students, it’s exciting busi
ness. May you enjoy every moment of
it!
—Delorice Taylor
No one can be perfectly free till all
are free; no one can be perfectly mor
al till all are moral; no one can be
perfectly happy till all are happy.
—Herbert Spencer
Virtue, like a strong and hardy
plant, takes root in any place, if she
finds there a generous nature and a
spirit that shuns no labor.
—Plutarch
Welcome
Alumni
TO 1954
Homecoming