State Teachers College News Letter
VOL. XI Elizabeth City, N. C., February, 1951 Number 5
STATE TO HOLD 60th FOUNDERS DAY EXERCISES
EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL
DRAMA FESTIVAL
Tlic State Teachers College pre
sented several high schools of North
eastern North Carolina in its eight
eenth Annual Drama Festival on Feb-
riifiry 16. This was a spectacvilar af
fair which lasted from 10:00 A.M. to
]fl;0() P.M.
During the morning session two
plays were presented; “Winter Sun
set” and “Shock of His Life”. The
participating schools were William-
ston High School and Edenton High
.School.
After a period of relaxation during
which lunch was served, the after
noon performance was held. “Tri
umph in Ahes,” which was ijre-
•sented by R. L. Vann High School,
Ahoskie, N. C., was the fir.t play.
Next came “flunger” by Nor;h:implon
County Training School, Garyjbarg,
N. C.; “The White Fawn/’ ijy Pitt
County Training Sc'.iool oF Crmias-
land, N. C.; and “The ReJ Key” by
W. S. Creecy High School of Rich
Square, N. C.
“The Red Key,” a moving mystery
play was the exciting climax to the
afternoon session. Gertha Moore who
gave an excellent portrayal of Hester,
Nicholas niental-case sister.
At 6:30 the audience was introduc-
fd to the College Band. After an in
spiring concert by this group, the at
mosphere was changed and the in
terests of the audience motivated to a
point of anticipation for the evening
session. The Youngest,” was present
ed by C. S. Brown High School of
this city then entertained the audience
with, The Glamour Girl”. “Fortune
is a Cowboy” by T. S. Cooper High
School of Sunbury, N. C., exploited
the tragic when it appeared as the fi-
play of the evening.
J. Saunders Reddings, distin
guished writer, former ex-English in
structor of this institution, and at pre
sent an instructor of English at Hamp
ton In.stitute, Virginia, was the crit-
je judge for the drama festival. A
’rief discussion of the plays was pre
sented by Dr. Redding, after which
reniarks by President Williams con-
^nded the eighteenth Annual Drama
Festival.
—E. Hodges.
To Attend Press Conference
Joshua Crunim and Carroll Rodgers
i|i\e been named by the Newsletter
to attend the Columbia Schol-
•'stit Press meeting in New York City
on March 8-9.
^^hat are you doing to better the
^''weational facilities of S.T.C. Are
^ P®''t:icipant? If not ask yourself
j Let us unite and enjoy the few
^ecreational facilities that we do have.
Vou have any suggestions?
CHOIR TO MAKE EXTENSIVE
TOUR
The latest news from the choir has
been certain facts given by the direc
tress, Miss E. A. Johnson, concerning
the forth-coming tour to be made by
the choir. The first date scheduled
for an appearance is in Washington,
North Carolina, at the P. S. Jones
High School on April 1.
The out-of-state tour will begin in
full on April 4 with two concerts. The
first, in the morning, at Marion Station
High School, Marion Station, Mary
land, and in the evening at Deleware
State in Dover, Delaware. On the 5
an appearance will be made at the
Church of Reverend Richard Council,
in Red Bank, New Jersey. In Brook
lyn the stopover will be made on the
6 at the Mount Lebanon Church. On
' the 8 and 9, concerts have been ar
ranged for Hartford, Connecticut and
New York City respectively.
Back home again arrangements
been made for Portsmouth, Virginia,
on April 23 and a tentative date for
Beaufort County.
A main feature of the Spring Con
cert to be given here by the choir
will be “Ballads for Americans” by
John La Couche and Earl Robinson.
The vocal lead in this will be William
Price.—Drew.
VIVIAN C. MASON PRESENTED
AT VESPERS AND TEA
Mrs. Vivian Carter Mason, under
the auspices of the Sigma Rho Sigma
Social Studies Club, was presented
to an enthusiatic audience at the
vesper services beginning Negro Hist
ory Week on February 11, 1951. Mrs.
Mason is a graduate of the Univer
sity of Chicago and has traveled ex
tensively at home and abroad.
In her scholarly speech, Mrs.
Mason talked of History in regard to
the accuracy in it’s content, contend
ing that our History is not altogether
true because the historian writes about
what he thinks has happened or what
should have happened rather than
what really happened. Some of this
can be attributed to the fact that his
torians do not know what actually
happened. On the other hand, she
believes that History fails to reveal
to the reader all of the facts that
could have been given because it at
tempts to make the enemy stand out
as an enemy and the right stand
out as the right. Mrs. Mason further
stated that as students, teachers, and
citizens we shonld be able to differ-
entiate between the true and false.
To have a better world for a better
people, our children must be educated
to the extent that they want a better
world. Their minds and hearts have
tobe conditioned to this end. “Today
we have failed to do this,” says Mrs.
Hason. The teachers today must re-
(Continued on Page Fo>u)
PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH
The Newsletter takes pleasure in
presenting one of its own as the Per
sonality of the Month. She is Edith
Nokomis George of Elberon, Virginia,
who was graduated from the Surry
County Training School in 1947. Dur
ing her four years at the Elizabeth
City State Teachers College she has
been a ranking student.
She has been an honor roll student
since her Freshman year and has been
active in several of the campus organi
zations. Edith is a member of Alpha
Kappa Mu, National Honor Society;
Sigma Rho Sigma Social Studies Club;
Senior Art Society; “B” Natural Club;
College Newsletter; Y. W. C. A., and
the College Band.
On the campus Edith has made
many friends because of her person-
ahty and scholastic ability. She will
be graduated at the close of the pre
sent quarter.
She will complete the school year
teaching in Surry County Virginia,
and later will enter Columbia Uni
versity.
One achieves personahty, Edith be
lieves, by projecting his personality in
the helping of others.
The college family salutes her for
a job well done and wishes her the
greatest success.
—Rodgers
SPORTSMANSHIP
And in the world as in the school.
You know how Fate may turn and
shift;
The prize be sometimes to the fool
The race not always to be swift.
Who misses or who gains the prize.
Go, lose or conquer, as you can;
But if you fall or if you rise.
Be each, pray God, a genth^man.
—T!iaj :crv.
Dr. F. L. Atkins to be
Principal Speaker
A colorful program will lie pre
sented during the sixtheenth Founders
Day exercises to be held on March
11. The principal speaker will be Dr.
F. L. Atkins, president of theWinston-
Salem State Teachers College. Special
music will be rendered by the College
Choir.
Mr. F. P. Shields, president of the
General Alumni Association, will bring
greetings; while Mrs. I. K. Wood
Bellamy of Rocky Mount, North
Carohna, will talk on the life of Dr.
P. W. Moore. Guest soloist will be
Mrs. Celeste Watson Brookins of
Portsmouth, Virginia.
The program will be climaxed with
a pilgrimage to the graves of Dr.
Moore and other Staff members who
are buried in Elizabeth City.
Touring Players Appear Here
Despite the cold and snow, a re
presentative audience gathered in
Moor Hall on the evening of February
•3 to witness a trio of plays present
ed by the Touring Players, Inc. Al
though the plays were delayed be
cause of the weather the enjoyment
of the event was not spoiled at all.
The trio consisted of; “The Old Lady
Shows Her Medals”, by J. M. Barrie;
“The Lottery”, by Ellen Violett; and
“Man of De.stiny”, by George Bernard
Shaw.
The first play, a light comedy,
centered around an old scrub-woman,
Mrs. Dowey, who wanted so terribly
to have the war effect her that she
invented a son of her own. This young
man appeared much to her chargin.
However, Mrs. Dowey was to be made
very happy even though the turn of
events were disastrous. The play was
most enjoyable; the characters were
natural and lent themselves to the
scenes.
The next play, however, was exact
ly opposite in content. It was a tense
drama testing the strength of its char
acters to face a situation which took
not only strength but will power and
endurence. The Lottery was played
magificently. Anquish, anxiety and
worry are not moods that can be ease-
ly done effectively; however, this
group was superb in its renditions.
The last play of the evening was
one by the great English playwright
George Bernard Shaw. Although it
slanted more to the lighter side it was
a test of acting ability. Napoleon Bon
aparte, the main charter, was delight
fully portrayed. This play was a
test of Napoleon’s weaknesses and
strong-points. It lent a perfect climax
to an i/lvcady gracious evening.
N. Drew