TTieNejvs Argus-February, 1978- Pagfe2
Editorials
Reasons Behind The Failure
During the past two years a
vast majority of the Freshmen
students at WSSU have had
trouble passing the World
Civilization course. Last
semester was certainly no
different in this aspect than
previous ones. Most of the
Freshmen students I came in
contact with had either failing or
near failing grades in the course.
I began to wonder about the
reasons for this and I decided to
talk to the students and visit the
lecture sessions to find out what
the problems were. I knew that at
least a portion of these students
had the academic ability to
obtain better grades and it
puzzled me that they were unable
to do so.
The lecture session took place
in the auditorium, and it was not
long after I entered one of these
sessions that I began to
understand why students fail.
The- auditorium was literally
packed with students. The
teacher stood on stage and
lectured. The instructor went
through the material as if he
could care less whether the
students understood or retained
any of the information. It was as
if the instructor were a tape
recorder with a faulty rewind
button. The students seemed
extremely distracted and listless,
and who wouldn’t be with any and
everything going on around
them. The students engaged in a
multitude of activities during the
lecture session. These activities
included sleeping, talking, telling
jokes, attempted note taking, and
even standing in the chairs. I am
sure little if any learning takes
place in this situation.
On another day of the week the
Freshmen attend smaller
classroom sessions to discuss
questions they may have about
the chapters being covered in
World Civilization. Once I found
this out I felt the students might
have a little more hope of
obtaining a decent grade, but I
was mistaken. In talking with
Freshmen students I found out
that often the test may cover
chapters 12-17, for example and
in the discussion session students
cover chapter 9. Who wouldn’t
find it hard to pass under these
circumstances?
The university does have one
redeeming grace in the set up of
this course. There are several
practice tests that students may
obtain to help them study for the
actual test. The only problem
with this is that these tests are
only available to the SEP
students. The tests all have
questions that are worded very
similar to one another and the
students must choose the correct
answer. This adds to the already
difficult situation.
I am definitely no authority on
learning, but I have been in
enough learning situations to
determine whether a class
structure is conducive to learning
or not. I feel that the structure of
our World Civilization course is a
determent to learning. I urge
those persons responsible for the
structure of the course to
reevaluate it and stop cheating
the Freshmen students.
I entered WSSU in 1974 when
the World Civilization course was
stiU taught in the traditional
mWht to MW?
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Co-Editors Beverly Blackwell
Cheryl Brandon
Reporters Phyllis Battle
Beverly Hester
Gloria Peebles
Norris Sutton
JuliusS. Wilson, Jr.
Typists Marsha Graddy
Beverly Hester
Robin Howard
Gwen Kendrick
Gwen Moore
Vicie Walker
Photographers Matthew Emiohe
Constance Majors
Circulation Asonia Battle
Debra Gaines
Alice Lindsey
Janet Parker
Faculty Advisor Jesse E. Huff
Staff Consultant Charisse C. Fountain
The NEWS ARGUS is a monthly student publication.
classroom situation and I am
quite sure .that I learned and
retained more information than
the present Freshmen.
I feel that the purpose of
change is to make thmgs better
and I don’t feel that has happened
in this case.
Cheryl Brandon
RAMA
Is
Underway
Well Rams, it’s that time of the
year again. We hope that all you
creative people are getting your
thoughts together because
“Rama” needs your poems, short
stories, plays and prose.
Published yearly by the
members of the English
Department, Rama always
proves to be the best literary
magazine around... and why not?
It is comprised of work from the
most talented, motivating and
unique people that can be found
on a university.
Why not be a part of it all?
Rama is a literary magazine to
be proud of. Whatever thoughts
you have, why not share them
with someone else? Make Rama,
one of your goals for 78. Use your
talent wisely. You won’t regret
it!
GOOD
LUCK
RAMS
IN
THE
CIAA
Poetry Corner
CIAA Get Ready
Guess who’s on the way
Running,
Jumping,
Rebounding,
and Hitting
those baskets.
They Just can’t be beat
They’re
out
of
sight
All Right
Rams
Do
Your
Thing.
By; Garland S. Brice
Love Color
Lemon
Orange
Violent
Evergreen
By: Garland S. Brice
HE
He on the way back
He number one
He first and last
He Alpha and Omega
He the beginning and ending
Have you tried him
He all right
By: Garland S. Brice
Deeds
It doesn’t reaUy matter
Who you love
or just how you love
but that you love.
The act of loving anyone
in the end
is the act of loving God.
James L Wilkins
Peace of Time
I wonder
If I shall ever find
My peace of time.
A time that I can be
truly at peace
with the world
and me.
Times that 1 am without rush
and hurry.
Times without confusion and
worry.
I wonder
If I shall ever see
a time just right for me.
James I. Willdns
You Hold the Key
It’s high time we were ourselves.
For all you are.
You must be.
The best person to
live for is yourself
considering the priorities.
The past was earlier
The future is now
Begin the living.
Living for you.
You are the production
of your very own soul.
James I. Wilkins
A Message
t
I laughed a long time yesterday
because Mrs. Hall
Sent me a letter
criticizing me
and explaining to me things I should do
in my struggle for Blackness
she recalled a name to my mind
Sadie
Burned herself to death
in front of the police station
she poured
gasoline
on her clothes
and lit a match to herself
to illuminate the fact that
justice is being ignored.
She gave a gift of
her own self
To remind the rest of us that
no matter what we are doing
It’s not enough
By: James I. Wilkins