October, 1953
STATE TEACHERS COLLEGE NEWS LETTER
Page Three
Things Aren’t What They Seem
Being informed that I was eligible
to do cadet teaching filled me with a
great deal of anxiety. My, I thought,
I’m getting nearer to my B.S. Degree
and “A” certificate. I was even con
scious of the old adage: “It won’t be
as long as it has been.”
Observation began the morning of
September 23, 1953, and this was in
deed a red letter day for me.. On the
first day my expectations were full-
filled, and as days began to turn into
weeks, the excitement gradually wan
ed. It was at this point that I realiz-
'ed cadet teaching is more than a
means to an end. I became conscious
of the fact that it can lead to intang
ible, as well as tangible gains, both
of which will prove beneficial to any
person looking forward to the training
of future generations.
When my critic teacher requested
that I look into a particular case and
pass my decision to him, he did not
know the state of nervousness that
possessed me. My first thought was
the mixture of a plea and a prayer -
“Oh, God, what must I do?” Then
suddenly, what to do dawned upon
me. So I braced myself, received the
ball and made a touchdown without
realizing that I had scored.
Having this experience brought to
my view another fact to which I had
not given thought—that cadet teach
ing is just as great a step into the un
known as matrimony and conceiving
a new life. For no matter how much
planning and preparation are done,
a situation which has not been anti
cipated will arise and is left entirely
for the individual to face.
This is where those things which
were preached daily and which were
cast off as nonentities take on a new
meaning. The things to which I refer
are such phrases and words as “being
able to cope with daily situations,”
having the ability to s o Iv e p r o-
blems,” “co-operation,’^ “patience,”
tolerance,” and “responsibility.”
Out of all this comes one of the
most pertinent phases of life — ma
turity—the one thing that I had never
associated with or even thought might
be the result of being in the position
in which cadet teaching places an
individual.
—Myrtle Borden Hill
my impression of
THIS COLLEGE
Elizabeth City State Teachers Col
lege has made a great deal of pro
gress since I visited the campus dur
ing High School Day, March, 1951.
The Health Center, Science Building
and the addition of two wings to the
J nie Arts and Physical Education
Building have greatly improved the
appearance of the campus.
The improvements in the canteen
have eliminated the dullness which
penetrated the atmosphere making the
campus more lively. Improvements of
this sort offer tangible satisfaction to
many students. Not only have these
things elated me, but the feeling of
family life among the students has
also impressed me. With all these
assets, I feel that I shall become
easily adjusted to my surroundings.
—Wilhelmena Smith ’58
THAT JUNIOR FEELING
The feeling of being a Junior is
wondrous. It is rich, and like a rush
of sparkling water flowing through
you, it is clear and purifying.
It comes to you in the library when
you are taking notes on John Dewey
and you pick up the little cards again
and again, for you know they are sure
and their touch is crisp and whole
some.
It is there in the reception room of
the dormitory when you dance to the
tune of “Memories.” It is in the way
your tweed suit fits, in the way you
write that letter.
Again it seems to have nothing to
do with school at all. It is glorious
like the feeling you get from a sail
boat ride up the Pasquotank when it
is evening and the purple is changing
to midnight blue.
Just before you retire you lean on
the window sill and gaze out into the
night. You have a way of pretending
that you aren’t any good, but deep
inside you know the truth: You are
the greatest, the greatest that ever
was! A Junior!
Sometimes it is in awaking just
before the alarm goes off and feeling
the blanket around you. The morning
light dawns on the blinds, and the
sensation of being a Junior tingles at
the edges. You jump out of bed, and
your feeling blends with the tone of
morning voices.
You are a Junior and the world is
Yours! \
—Delorice Taylor
APPROACH OF AUTUMN
The early violets we saw together,
Lifting their delicate swift heods
As if to dip them in the water, now
wither.
Arching no more like throughbreds.
Slender and pale, they flee the rime
Of death: the ghosts of violets
Are running in a dream. Hearts-flow-
ering time.
Decays, green goes, and the eye for
gets.
Forgets? But what spring-blooded
stock.
Sprouts deathless violets in the skull
That’s pawing on the hard and bitter
rock.
Of reason, make thinking beautiful?
—Selected
ROSES AND THORNS
Greetings, students and instructors.
Here’s hoping you’ve had a wonderful
and enjoyable summer, and are ready
for another school year.
Roses to our administration for the
many improvements and additions at
this institution.
Roses to the Freshman Class for
presenting a wonderful talent night
program.
Roses to our upper-classmen and
new students who have shown great
interest in our extra-curricular activit-
ies.
Thoms to our boys who allow the
girls to become “wall flowers ot our
dances (so soon).
Roses to the Social Committee who
have started planning social activities
for the student body.
Roses to Gilbert Crandle, Roc y
MOTIVATION FOR READING
The library is filled with grit for
active minds:
Well-known works the critics bow to;
Torn-lived tomes that tell one how to;
Panegyrices of the past;
How to get a grade and earn it;
If one wants to build a house.
Fly a plane, or kill a mouse.
Write an epic, fix a car
Find the distance to a star;
If one’s interest is classic
Early stone age or Jurassic
History or economics.
Drama, essay or the comics.
If possible to bind it.
Here one certainly may find it.
One may also find here lurking
Folks like you, who should be work
ing.
—A. A. Greenlee,
Asst. Librarian
KINDNESS
I would rather have a little rose
From the garden of a friend
Than to have the choicest flower
When my stay on earth must end.
I would rather have a pleasant word
In kindness said to me
Than flattery when my heart is still
And this life ceased to be,
I would rather have a loving smile
From friends I know are true
Than tears shed around my casket
When this world I bid adieu.
Bring me all the flowers today
Whether Pink or White or Red
I would rather have one blossom now
Than a truck load when I am dead.
—Selected
CHARLES H. ROBINSON,
ALUMNUS, DIES
Charles Robinson, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Charles H. Robinson, Sr., of
Elizabeth City, died recently.
He graduated from Elizabeth City
State Teachers College the year 1940.
He was an active member of various
organizations on the campus, includ
ing the College Band.
A year later, he entered the army.
After three years in the service, he
secured a position as teacher at
Aurora, N. C. and remained there
until the time of his death.
—Jean Williams
Randall, Roland V. Bowser and Car
roll Rodgers who are doing further
study at Western Reserve University.
Thorns to our campus boys who
loiter around the canteen and make
unfavorable remarks.
Roses to the “Pirates” for winning
their first game of the season against
Savannah State 42-0.
Roses to our last year’s graduates
who were successfull in finding em
ployment.
Thorns to our Junior and Senior
Girls who are abusing their privileges.
Roses to Paul Pruden who has re
turned to the campus, after receiving
a fracture while playing in a scrim
mage game.
Roses to our Student Council who
was recently sworn in as the first
Council of the school.
FORMER GRADUATE ADMITTED
TO N. G. STATE COLLEGE
Robert L. Clemons of Durham,
Route 3, qualified for graduate study
at N. C. State College. He is one of
the first of our race to meet the re
quirement since the Greater Univer
sity of N. C. trustees declared him
eligible.
As a member of Elizabeth City
State Teachers College, he was an
outstanding student, having been
graduated as valedictorian of the high
school class of 1928. He was quiet,
unassuming, brilliant and cooperative.
Clemons is seeking his master’s de
gree in electrical engineering. He is
a 1952 graduate of A. & T, College
at Greensboro, N. C,, graduating with
the highest honors with a B.S. in
electrical engineering.
The College authorities said that
Clemons had met the three require
ments for entrance, namely: That they
be natives of this State. That facili
ties for the studies they seek are not
available at Negro institutions in N.
C., and that they complete all pre-re
quisite training before applying for
graduate school entrance.
He is a native of Columbia, Tyrrell
County. He has a record of five to
ten years experience in radio and tel
evision work. State College authori
ties said.
A PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
“If a child learns to listen to good
music and to love it while attending
school and then keeps on through life
with this enjoyment; if he learns to
appreciate beautiful pictures and ar
tistic surroundings, and takes this love
with him when he leaves school; if
he learns to play games that add to
the happiness and helpfulness through
life, and then keeps on playing them;
if he learns good health habits and
keeps practicing them; if he learns to
be a good citizen of a good school
community, and keeps on being a
good citizen in a larger community;
if his interest in history in school de
velops into a permanent interest in
world affairs; if the good English he
learns to speak in school is carried
into adult life; and if all the good
habits, ideals, and attitudes he devel
ops in the elementary school remain
with him throughout life, that child
has got the thing we call education.”
—George Willard Frazier.
SIGMA RHO SIGMA
PLANS PROGRAM
The new Sigma Rho Sigma, 1953,
began in September with the election
of the president, Melvin S. White,
successor to Earl B. Thomas, Pres-
dent Pro-temps. The meetings have
been spirited and highlighted by re
organization and a program for the
year including the initiation of pledg
ees during the fall and spring quar
ters. Other features expected during
the year will be holiday parties, a
homecoming float, a vesper service
and a chapel hour during Negro
History Week. Other members of the
club are: William Charles Bowser,
James Johnson, Doris O. Perry, Ruth
Privott and Elsie Palmer, The sponsors
are Mr. Broadus Jackson and Dr.
G. L. Davis.