Newspapers / Rocky Mount High School … / Nov. 25, 1970, edition 1 / Page 4
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Page 4 THE GRYPHON Wednesday, November 25, 1970 Superinten4^nt Interviewed What Environment Means Dr. Currin Enjoys New Position To Me And My Country Editors note: The following interview is with the new superintendent of City Schools, Dr. Benjamin Currin. At 34, he is pehaps one of the youngest men in the school system. He confesses that he does not feel uncom fortable as far as age goes. His thinking seems to reflect a bit of “youthful” enthusiasm and optimism. Dr. Currin seems to be quite interested in RMSH and its students: His comments on drugs and long hair were frank, interesting, and sincere. Ibelievewe are in deed fortunate to have as the head of our school system a man concerned for us and about us. He’s young and he’ll take time to listen. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF rocky mount so far? “I’ve been impressed with the spirit. "“All-America City” decals are everywhere, you've got a winning ball team, and the stadium stays packed. The spirit, that's what Pve noticed the most." HOW ABOUT RMSH? “I’ve only visited Senior High twice so far. From what I can tell, you’ve got an out standing school. Judging from your ball team, and the won derful turnout at that Wilson ball-game you’ve got an out standing school, and your an nual and paper.” WHAT WERE YOUR FEELINGS WHEN 70V FOUND OUT YOU WERE COMING TO ROCKY MOUNT? “Well, I knew of the trouble that happened here last fall. This may sound a little bit funny, but I think that having had that outbreak reduces the chance of another such episode. A lot of underlying problems have been worked out. I doubt that type of thing will happen again,” WHAT PROGRAMS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HERE IN ROCKY MOUNT THAT YOU have WORKED IN OTHER SCHOOLS? “I can’t really say right now exactly what we’ll try to do. I haven’t had time yet to see how receptive the Board of Ed ucation is. I think that there are several courses I would like to see installed here. Since they’re beneficial to the school system, I don’t forsee any big problems getting them started. I can't spell out anything really definite for you at this time, however.” WHAT DO YOU THINK OF TO DAY’S SCHOOL ADMINISTRA TORS, PARTICULARLY PRIN CIPALS? “The principal has probably had to make more change than anyone else. His job has chan ged 100 per cent. He’s got to deal with different standards and merge two cultures--black and white together. Much pro gress has been made, but it hasn’t been easy.” The principal used to take action and expect from 70- 100% support. Now, he's glad to get 50% and probably he’ll have to just go with a plurality from any one. The parents want more discipline, but the students are demanding more freedom at the same time. “Wishy-washy” is a term used to describe ad ministration figures, from your principal to the president. Act ually, I would say that the peo ple who make these claims are suffering from a misunder- WIMBERLY AND GREGORY INS. 118 S. FRANIOJN ST. ROCKY MOUNT, N. C. i Holiday Inn — Downtown 425 N. CHURCH ST. ☆ Home Of Fine Food & Lodging Restaurant Hours 6 A. M. To 10 P. M. ☆ Tall Tale Lodge Open 5:30 To I2KI0 P. M. Hilda’s Dress Shop 133 WESTERN AVE. standing of pressure. Prin cipals are caught in the mid dle and nothing they do is go ing to be satisfactory to ev eryone^ ABOUT STUDENT DEMANDS — DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR DIRECT COMMUNICA TION WITH THE STUDENTS IN YOUR SYSTEM? Definitely, there Is a need for communication between my office and the students. I'm going to look into the situation. It may be that you students have llneF of communication open to you, but you just don’t use them. If you don’t have channels that you can use to complain about problems, them I'm all in favor of getting a system for you. A student should be able to make a legitimate complaint without fear of intimidation or a loss of class standing. The students are supposed to come up with the problems, we're paid to come up with the an swers.” Hew do you feel about hair? “I figured that question was coming. Well, to be trite, it doesn’t turn me off; as you say. It's an individual matter. There are three reasons for long hair, I think. First, It’s the current fad, also it attracts attention, and on some people it's actually attractive. I no ticed when I visited Senior High that your president has long hair. He's obviously in a position of leadership. It’s a symbol and recognition. Ev ery generation has its ownsym- boL Anyway, there are a lot of things worse than long hair. ABOUT DRUGS . . . They're definitely a pro blem, but not as great a one as some pee^le would be lieve. Yes, many older folks would like to think that every youth has experiemented with drugs. This just isn’t so. But by saying that every stu dent at a college is on dope, it’s a little bit easier to turn a deaf ear to their protests. Drugs are being used to dis credit youth in general. We’ve magfnified the problem. We’ve even given publicity, though not intentionally, to marijuana, and stirred up a great amount of interest in It. By DOUG COLE The environment of a so ciety has always influenced that society’s development and strength. Because of this coun try’s vast resources. It has been economically possible for the United States to have de veloped into such a powerful nation. However, today the United States’ public Is just realizing that the exploitation of our nation’s environment can possibly result in a serious downfall of the United States' strength as a country. The pollution of this coun try’s environment has certainly become a nationwide problem already, although often is has not been recognized as a threat to the United States’ future in the smaller, less in dustrialized communities. These blind communities have not taken the action to pre serve their environment. In deed, in many cases the larger and obviously polluted cities of the United States are not tak ing a proper course of action in fighting pollution. The pub lic at large has not taken an active role in fighting for the life of our environment, main- ' ly because it has failed to sense the actual threat pollution poses. Without a healthy physi cal environment how can Amer icans expect a healthy social or economic environment to car ry on productive lives? These facets of environment deserve to be recognized. They rest on the foundations of a sound physi cal environment. As the United States gradually opens up new envir onments such as space, it must also strive to correct the earth’s environment. So far, this environment has supported mankind. Now, mankind needs to support this life-giving en vironment. Just as the environment In fluences the United States’ de velopment and strength. It de termines the entire world’s progress and results. Nations with larger resources in their environments are usually the more progressive and eager countries. Although the people of the United States do not seem to think of the other na tions of the world as being polluted, the entire world is being Influenced by pollution, directly or indirectly. Other nations of the world are grad- dually building up industrial ized societies, which are often main causes of air and water pollution. The more advanced societies with industrial growth beginning to take form often do not realize the potential dan gers of these industrial fac tories in causing pollution. Be cause they have not been ex posed to pollution, the young industrialized countries do not know of pollution, and there fore are not trying to prevent it. With the United States help ing, these countries should be informed about the dangers of pollution In order to realize that they must prevent it at all costs. If pollution is prevented in other countries, it may be stopped as a major pro blem of today's world. English Teachers Travel To Greensboro Convention Have you heard? RMSH is planning to reorganize the Eng lish department so that all courses are on an elective ba sis. Because RMSH is planning to make this move, Mr. Larry Tucker of the State Department suggested that representatives of our English Department at tend a high school where this method is already in practice. THE REMNANT SHOP “Sew & Save” Hiway No. 64 West at Encrlewood Rocky Mount, N. C. for those who care to look their best... call ANITA'S 232 TARBORO ST. 446-8165 Thursday November 12 Miss Miirchison, Mrs. Pace, Mrs. Armstrong, Mrs. Collins, and teachers from Northern and Southern Nash traveled to Greensboro Page High' School to observe the new English curriculum. The new course of study in English at Page High School is entirely elective for the Ju niors and Seniors, whereas the Sophomores have to follow the Introductory Language Arts Courses. The many courses include Shakespeare, Drama as a Study in Depth, Ethnic Lit erature, Journalism, Com position, and Myths and Legends --the only requirement is that the student elect at least six courses to the year. A two hour briefing for teachers was’ held and the re maining time was spent obser ving English classes. This trip proved very ed ucational and encouraging and will surely help in determing our courses of study in En glish in the future. Rooky Mount Lanes And Restaurant “Great For A Date” VOGUE DRESS SHOP 312 S. MAIN ST. Go-Clothes for girls on the go!
Rocky Mount High School Student Newspaper
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Nov. 25, 1970, edition 1
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