Page Two
STATE TEACHERS COLLEGE NEWS LETTER
December, 1952
ARE WE READY?
NEWS LETTER
Published by
STATE TEACHERS COLLEGE
NEWS PRESS CLUB
Elizabeth City, N. C.
Member:
Columbia Scholastic Press Association
Editor-in-Chief - Roland V. Bowser
Associate Editors - Carroll Rodgers
Myrtle Borden Hill
Managing Editor Doris Flood
Feature Editor Esmeralda Forbes
Sports Editors —- Alfred Marbley
Mazor Slade
Exchange Editor Nancy Gary
Columnists Rosa Ebron
Nina Perry, Elsie Miller, Lola Joyner
Business Manager Herman Horne
Typist Queenie Ferebee
Adviser Mrs. E. C. Mitchell
MEMORY IS NOT ENOUGH
An ever-present debate is whether
the school of today are as good as
they were four or five decades ago
Most teachers agree that they are.
However, this agreement does not sat
isfy the critic who says “Pupils really
learned when I went to school.”
Common sense and research tell us
that, generally speaking, present-day
schools accomplish far more than did
those of the past. Today’s curriculums
are broader in scope, richer in detail,
and more closely in line with every
day life. Some of the college subjects
of 1920 are today successfully taught
in high schools, and some of the old
high school subjects have been moved
down into the lower grades.
Teachers today are better equipped
for teaching, particularly with respect
to their understanding of the psychol
ogy, physical growth, and emotional
development of children. Textbooks
have been improved in content and
organization. New teaching aids have
raised the quality of learning, and
more children are in schools—better
schools.
Series of tests through the years in
the same area, like New York’s Reg
ent’s Examinations, show definite per
centage increases and show that pre-
sent-day pupils do better in every
field.
The critic of today’s schools offers
no proof. He submits only his memo
ries as evidence of the efficiency of
the “good old schools”. Research to
day, so far as reasonably similar con
ditions can be compared, has shown
repeatedly that modern schools are
without doubt much more effective.
Today’s pupil is superior to his ear
lier counterpart in his range of inter
ests, in his ability to handle thought
questions, and in his capacity to ap
ply knowledge and skills. He does not
seem to do as well on memory tests
of isolated facts, only because both
school and society have less use for
static encyclopedic knowledge.
The students of Elizabeth State
Teachers College are preparing to or
ganize fraternities and sororities on
the campus. Are we ready? I say, yes.
Such a move, however, is a very im
portant one, and all little details
should be carefully considered. Many
colleges have had some serious prob
lems concerning fraternal organiza
tions. We could profit by their mis
takes. There is not need to travel the
same road and meet the same obstac
les and handle them the same way.
Fresh, vigorous leadership on the
part of students and wise guidance on
the part of sponsors could eliminate
much in the area of difficulties that
could arise. One-hundred percent co
operation is needed from all.
Fraternal organizations can be an
asset to our college and past-college
social life.
Let us rise above every difference
difficulty, and obstacle to make gains
worthy of the greatness of our pro
fession.
Are we ready? Yes!
THE ORDINARY
In our immediate environment are
some of the greatest treasures of life.
Ordinary, we call them, but that does
not mean that they cannot be enlarg
ed and utilized for our well being. If
we so elect, the worldly may become
sacred; the trite, a spiritual force.
It is natural for us to wish for the
things we do not have; yet it is a
fact that the more we get, the more
we want. Our desires to possess grow
as our possessions grow. Happiness
lies not in what we have, for with
all gains in material things, there are
inevitable losses. Many a rich person
has said that he longs for the old days,
when, with meagre means, he could
have great satisfactions and peace of
mind.
O, the praise and blessings of the
ordinary—the people, the places, ex
periences, the books we have at hand
and see every day—all of them serv
ing us well if we would but realize it.
Let us each build our world well.
Though that world may not be large,
it may be beautiful if we have the
foresight and the spirit of content
ment that may be found in the ordi
nary.
—Nina C. Perry
IT CAN BE DONE
This year a stronger and richer
school spirit prevailed among the stu
dent body as well as the players at
our school. The spirit was of a type
such as this “We Can Do It”, noL
“W’e Might Do It”. With this feel
ing our football team went to war on
the gridiron for the E.I.A.C. title.
The opposing team, Norfolk Division
of Virginia State, had her entire stu
dent body, band and cheer leaders
on the field. State Teachers College
was not represented in its entirety,
but the spirit that existed within the
students present overcame that of
Norfolk Division.
. As the boys fought for the title the
student body fought also.
This is the only way it can be done.
— Wynola Davis
TEACHER’S RESOLUTIONS
I HEREBY RESOLVE
To learn to know my children. They
want to be understood. Plan my work
carefully each day. A teacher without
a plan is like an architect without a
blueprint. Appreciate my profession.
Many organizations and individuals
are laboring valiantly for better
schools and teaching conditions. Co
operate with others. None of us can
do effective work without the help of
others. Keep myself in good physical
and mental health. Teaching requires
physical stamina and mental discern
ment. Know the materials I am pre
senting from the standpoint of useful
ness and up-to-dateness. A good
teacher is a scholar thruout life.
To ask good questions. A good ques
tion is frequently more effective than
an emphatic declaration. Use my
voice effectively. Frequently the way
I say something is more effective than
what I say. Avoid hasty, thoughtless
remarks. They cause much of the
world’s trouble. Be patient. It is one
of the basic virtues. Learn to live!
Live to Learn!
Editor’s News and Views
Can students be taught in school to
develop an ability to learn from their
experiences after they graduate? I
believe that the answer is a definite
“yes” and that schools not only can
but should teach students how to go
on learning after college.
Some schools have done as much as
fifteen years of study in this area and
from their findings it appears that the
problem is a little more complex than
one would ordinarily assume. How
ever, I believe that it is safe to say
that if a student knows how to do
something and practices doing it un
til it becomes a habit, the chances are
that he will continue to do it after
graduation.
o a a
Because of the speeding on South
ern Avenue, we shall have to ask the
drivers to give the school children a
brake.
«
One major need in southern schools
of all levels is good public relations.
A sound program could be worked
out and properly “sold” to school ad
ministrators. Under such a condition,
it is believed, the public will give
much more vigorous support to the
schools.
» o o
The work of the United Nations is
not known to the average college stu
dent. Clubs and other interested or
ganizations could remedy this by con
tacting the UN Chief of Public' In
formation. We should know some
thing about this group because what
they do will largely affect our future.
BROTHERHOOD
We have committed the Golden
Rule to memory; let us now commit
it to life. — Edwin Markham.
YULETIDE MESSAGE
Mr. Eric Johnston, president of the
motion picture industry, is one of oar
leading spokesmen in America today
I would like to pass on to you a part
of a speech he mdae that was spon
sored by the National Conference of
Christians and Jews.
“We talk about building bridges of
brotherhood around the wodd in an
swer to the Communist pretensions
and that’s a splendid vision. But bro
therhood begins on a man-to-man ba
sis at home and not a mass-to-mass
basis across the oceans. Without that
footing, it is idle talk and an emptv
vision.”
“We can’t afford to blind ourselves
to the disturbing and underminino ra
cial and religious antagonisms in
America. They will defeat our good
intentions for a world brotherhood un
til we cast them out and live as
brothers in our states, communities,
and neighborhoods — not for a sin
gle week in any year, but day by day
and year by year.”
— The Editor.
THE WAY OF LIFE
A leader is best
When people barely know that he
exists.
Not so good when people ohey and
acclaim him.
Worst when they despise him.
“Fail to honor people,
“They fail to honor you;”
But of a good leader, who talks
little.. When his work is done, his aim
fulfilled.
They will all say, “We did this our
selves.”
— Laotzu.
MODERN DANCE
GROUP APPEARS
Under the direction of Miss Doro
thy Taylor, the class in Modern Dance
presented an introduction to modern
dance during the Assembly hour on
December 12.
The curtain opened with a group in
eurhythmies. These exercises were fol
lowed by other modern numbers in
cluding the tango. Participants were
Cecelia Dowd, Winnie Durante, Mar
tha Wood, Elizabeth Taylor, Suddie
Dixon, Gloria Cause, Audrey Hailes,
and Ada Martai. Their interpretation
of the various numbers proved highly
entertaining for the audience.
The closing number was a presen
tation of the “Fire Dance” by Miss
Taylor who exhibited poise, chani)
and grace in her performance.
— Mazor Slade.
^ HOW TRUE
Y
Happiness adds and multiplies when
we di\ ide it with others.
o
The greatest of all faults is lo l>f
con;c;ous of none.
— Thomas Carlyle-
The only difference between a wt
and a grave is their dimensions.
— Ellen Glasgow.