PAGE TWO
THE COMPASS
NOVEMBER, 1962
THE COMPASS
For Students and Alumni
Published by
STATE TEACHERS COLLEGE NEWS PRESS CLUB
ELIZABETH CITY, N. C.
Member;
Colvimbia Scholastic Press Association
ThanksgLving Prize
Sunny S. Vick
John W. Jordan
Joyce Brown. Thelma Howard, John Jordan
...Ulysses BeU, Charlie Jelfries, Yvonne Joyner Rosa Stokes
James Hand. Jimmy Jenkins, Richard Simpson
...Haznpton Blend. Dorothy Cotien, Annie R. Lea
Frances Moore, Maxiha Reid
Joyce Boone. Virginia Cox. Theresa Dildy,
Louvellia Johnson. Bonrer Murrell. Ruby Simons. Mary Welch
SECRETARY Annie R. Lea
TREASURER Louvellia Johnson
CARTOONIST Lorraine Walker
TYPISTS .Dorothy Baker, Ethel Rogers
ADVISORS Mrs. E. H. Mitchell. Mrs. A. M. Bluiord. Mrs. V. B. Taylor
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
LITERARY EDITORS
FEATURES EDITORS
SPORTS EDITORS
SOCIET / EDITORS
EXCHANGE EDITORS
REPORTERS.
Education —The Weapon That Will Meet
The Challenge of Automation
The complexity of automation has caused a serious effect on
present day society. It is almost plain to see that automation poses
a challenge which must be met. The one weapon which can facilitate
this challenge is that of education.
Automation is defined as a system or method in which the
processes of production, movement, operation, and/or inspection
of parts and materials are automatically performed or controlled by
self-operating machinery.
The advantages of automation are many. First of all, auto
mation m.akes man’s work easier, thereby, giving him more leisure.
Years ago women labored over the wash tub cleaning clothes. Now
clothes are washed and dried in automatic laundry machines.
Cooking once required the cutting of wood and making of fires.
Now food is cooked automatically in gas or electric stoves while the
cook is doing other chores. Food once preserved by drying and
salting is now kept fresh in freezer food lockers. Man is able to
travel faster and farther because of the speed and maneuverability of
aircrafts. The telstar enable better communication between
distances. Mathematical problems which once took mathematicians
days to solve are solved now in a matter of seconds by electronic
computers called electronic brains. Accuracy in test materials has
been made by mechanical test computers. Teaching methods
have been improved by educational television and teaching
machines. Automobiles, bridges, houses and ships which once took
an uncountable amount of-time are now constructed in less than
half the time because of technological conditions made possible by
automation. Agricultural work once done by hand is now mostly
done by farm machinery. Industries have increased their efficiency
and eased man’s work by the use automatic machines.
Despite the many advantages of automation, there is one con
spicuous disadvantage. Jobs once held by man are now being done
by machines. This simply means that automation has eliminated
many jobs; consequently, unemployment is at an all-time high. Even
though, automation improves production and efficiency, it also
eliminates man-power.
Because of automation one can see that there is an increased
and imperative need for education. Man can no longer be able to
depend wholly upon physical toil to earn a living. He will be ex
pected to have an education, so he will be prepared for living in
this complex’ world. Man will need an education to control the
sequence of operations of the machinery of automation. The job
created by automation requires a high level of skill and creates an
intellectual challenge for man. The technical and economic have
created unparalleled opportunities for him to engage in intellectual
pursuits.
To meet the challenge of the automatic age the greatest weapon
is education—not education in the sense of vocational training
alone, but education for all areas of life. In this way the force of
automation can be made a force for good. It can provide a wide
variety of new and better jobs for those who are prepared.
The Desire to Excel Academically
Success in the pursuit of a college education is often determined
by scholastic achievement.
If one desires to excel, he must realize that knowing is of
no avail; one must put the knowledge or principles to work. It
is the utilization of knowledge, and not what one knows, that counts
in scholastic achievement. One must evalutae success in terms of
progress and the utilization of gained information.
There is room at the top only for the people who have the
desire academically. Along with this desire, a person must also have
ability and knowledge. On the other hand, there is room for any man
at the top, if he does his work as well as it can be done. The
greatest satisfaction on earth is to do the particular task one is doing
as well as it can be done; this means excelling in one’s duties.
Each college or school has rules specifying what the regulations
are concerning grades. In college, emphasis is based primarily on
academic achievement.
The realization of the importance of scholastic achievement
should motivate one to devote the necessary energy to developing
the study skills that he will need and to the organization of his
activities for reasonably good, academic work. Institutions of higher
learning set their own standards for achievement, with the expecta
tion that a high level of work should be done. Only when colleges
require high academic achievement can they fulfill the role intended
for transmitting to the coming generations an improved society and
cultural heritage. Scholastic success indicates the ultimate goals to
which American education is indebted.
A cultivation of the desire for scholastic achievement is,
therefore, the most important factor in preparing the youth to build
a better world.
—Ray M. Cooper
Why Integrate Schools?
With all the commotion now about
school integration, some of us who
firmly conform to the integration of
■ schools do not pause long enough
ask ourselves why it is that inte
gration IS so important. When we
have thoroughly thought about the
nr efforts to desegregate our
publi; schools will probably become
stronger, because we will see that
school integration is by far our most
powerful weapon in the fight for the
rights of true American citizens.
None can truthfully deny the fact
that a job done well is a job done in
sequence or orderly manner. In
undertaking some tasks, it is necessary
that we realize the importance of
placing some things first.
This is the reason that the leaders
of the Negro race are trying so hard
to desegregate the public schools. It is
truism that on an average white
schools are superior to Negro schools
in regard to facilities. How can any
one expert a student who has been
educated under handicapped and in
ferior conditions to do as well on
National test as a student who has
been exposed to the best of facilities?
Integration of schools would help
to provide equal educational opportu
nities for all pupils regardless of race,
creed, or color. The integrationist and
the segregationist know this. That is
why there is such an intense struggle
on both sides.
Once the schools are desegrated,
all other public places such as hotels,
lunch counters, and libraries will
eventually open their doors to every
one. Moreover, after going to school
together, students of different races
learn that there is no real difference
in human beings.
That Knowledge Be Paramount
All of us are familiar with the saying. He got the tail end and
ran with it." This is much too often the case on our campus. We do
not take the time to get a thorough understanding of things. If we
do not see the importance of seeking comprehensive information on
a subject, then, why should we be so critical of it? Many times our
destructive criticisms are changed to constructive ones after we
have got a more vivid insight of the case.
Recently a student made the statement that he did not like one
of our former presidents of the United States. When asked to give
his reasons, he was able to give only one, and that one was not
based on facts. If this person had known something about this presi
dent’s administration, he might had the same attitude; however,
it is quite possible that he would have had just the opposite. At the
least, he would have had some basis for his view other than,
“mother or father did not like him.”
Coming closer home, often students have been critical of the
publication of “The Compass.” We have a right to be concerned
about our publications, but it would be better and more informative
if we would go in and get reliable information. Who knows? maybe
we would find that “The Compass” has a set budget that will not
allow for a greater production.
Let us always get the facts on any issue before criticizing it.
This method is easy and very rewarding.
An Appropriate Word
It has been decided by the writer that an analysis of the word,
“humane” would be beneficial at this season of the year.
“Humane” denotes what pertains to mankind, with no sugges
tion as to its being good or evil—as the human race, human follies,
vices, or crimes. “Humane” denotes what may rightly be expected of
mankind at its best, in the treatment of a sentient being; a humane
enterprise or endeavor is one that is intended to prevent or relieve
suffering. The human man will not needlessly inflict pain upon the
meanest thing that lives; a merciful man is dispossed to withold or
mitigate the suffering even of the guilty. The compassionate man,
who is human, would forestall and prevent the suffering which he
sees possible.
This paragraph, I hope, has elicited a clear understanding of
the word, “humane.’' I also hope that it has given to the reader a
wider perspective for campus living.
A Student's Voice
Students are called stupid, dumb,—
and often told that they do not belong
in anybody’s college. Surely, there
are some slow students, but every
body cannot be comprehensive about
the same things.
If you were a student, struggling as
hard as possible and worying about
how you are going to defray next
month’s bill, or whether you will
make the average required for the full
amount of your loan, what would you
do in this competitive community,
especially when your instructors do
not give you any kind of encourage
ment?
Have our instructors had to be
called incompetent? Have they had to
worry about bills? Have they had the
'“space age” and the “atomic age”
hanging over their heads?
What has given some persons the
idea that we are not capable of doing
college work? Have they thought to
themselves. Am I getting my subject
matter across to my students? Have 1
realized that all of my students do
not learn at the same rate? We believe
that our instructors know, yet some of
them do not show understanding.
What are we as students to do? All
we ask of our teachers is that they be
i little more understanding and not
too quick to criticize.
LighthouseCollegeCenter
The Lighthouse College Center is
the heart of the plan for the College
Unions at Elizabeth City State Teach
ers College.
The Plan of the Lighthouse College
I Center is to increase cultural, social,
and intellectual development of stu
dents and members of the college
community. To accomplish this plan,
it provides social, educational and
cultural experiences that will meet
the needs and interests of the stu
dents.
Miss Dobbs
(Continued from Page 1)
spiring and enjoyable. Miss Dobbs
brought to us a variety of selections
expressing love, nature, and gay ro
mantic moods. Her interpretations of
selections from Bach, Mozart, Men
delssohn, and Brahms, as well as those
from Rossini and Granados, held the
audience spellbound to the very end
of the program, when she gave as
her encore Gershwin’s “Summertime”.
After the concert, a reception was
held in the Lighthouse College Center
honor of Miss Dobbs.
ENCOUNTER
Wet stars hung like ice pebbles in
The sky. I never knew there were so
many.
In the city the street lamps wiped
them clean ,
And out of view, leaving a milky
cream
Of naked hue, deceptively robbed of
any
Separate sparkle, a sky syringed.
J recall my first thrill of a country
Night came as a kindling shock. I
leaned
Against the dark and scarcely breath
ed. It seemed
This frightening first encounter with
such beauty
Mocked my naive unacquaintance
with the Dresden
Regal splendar—cold, indifferent, hya
line.
Pinkie Gordon Lao*