VOLUME XXV
Published by Journalism Class of Rocky
!'?'FSn-*y, SEPTE?i[BE^ 29, 19P3
ROCKY MOUNT, N. C.
NUMBER 1
Town Meeting Discusses Atomic Power
Here For First Time In North Carolina
Three Additional Teachers Join RMSHS Faculty
"Atomic Power — Mankind’s
Boon or Destruction” is the topic
of America’s Town Meeting of the
Air scheduled for tonight in the
senior high school auditorium. The
program will be broadcast over the
nation through the American
Broadcasting Company. This is the
first time the Town Meeting pro
gram has gone out over the air
from a North Carolina city.
Speakers are Dr. Paul Aebersold,
director of Isotope Research at
Oak Ridge, and Dr. Ralph E. Lapp,
Director of Nuclear Science Serv
ice in Washington. Moderator Is
Gunnar Back, a well-known mem
ber of ABC network’s Washington
news staff.
Originated By Carolinian
Town Meeting was originated by
Georgie V. Denny, Jr., a I^r^i
Carolinian, in 1935. Mr. Denny is
largely responsible for the success
of the program today. This forum
is recognized as the leader in the
field of educational programs. It
has always been distinctive among
radio forums because it permits
interplay of inexpert opinion along
with that of experts. An import
ant feature of every program is
the audience participation. The
studio audience Is given the
chance to “heckle” the speakers.
Since its beginning, it has con-
inuei to bring the radio audience
.L‘rtc.rip-riiry is.'jue.'s discussed by
people who have often been lead
ers in formulating the policies to
be discussed. Participants have
come from every field of national
importance and have Included
some of the most outstanding
authorities in the United States.
Received Peabody Award
The program has received over
fifty awards and is a two-time
winner of the Peabody award,
radio’s equivalent to the Pulitzer
prize.
Doors of the new school audi
torium open at 7:30 p. m. tonight
for a special program before the
regular broadcast at nine o’clock.
After the broadcast, the speakers
will answer additional questions
from the audience.
The local program is sponsored
by the Public Affairs Committee
and the Rocky Mount Chamber of
Commerce.
Special Choir Sings
For District Teachers
Members of the senior high
school choir have been selected by
Mr. Parry to take part in a vocal
clinic In connection with the Dis
trict Teachers Meeting at East
Carolina College, October 20-23.
Dr. Keister, the new choral and
violin teacher at ECC, will re
hearse and direct the choir in the
following nu^ibers; O Lamb of
God by Christiansen: Lord, To
'Thee Our Hearts Are Raised by
Glinka; What ,God Does. Ever
Well Is Done by J. S. Bach: Ben
toei County by James Hall: and
iPoUy WoUy Uoudle ananged by
Charles.
Sopranos are Peggy Jones, Bar
bara Smith, Connie Taylor, Edith
Ann Johnson, Nancy Newbold,
Norma Faye Bulluck, Pat Alex
ander: altos — Betty Brigman,
Christine Hufman, Shirley Bur
nette: tenors—Linwood Pittman,
Gordon Waters, Bobby Patterson:
basses—Geoi’ge Strickland, Harry
Gray, and Dick Norment.
Shown here are three new Rocky
Mount senior high school
tej^chers. They are, from left to right. Miss Louise Parker, Latin
and psyeiioloffy. Miss Winifred Harris, dramatics and world his
tory. and Mr. Ernest Black, band director.
Clubs Issue Bills ConteSt
To New Members
Begins Here
Harris, Lotz Here
For First Assembly
Rebecca Harris and Jack Lotz
will present the first paid assem
bly of the year, a Roth program,
to the student body in the new
auditorium this Friday. Tlie prp-
gram consists of choregraphical
speaking with narrations. There
will be Spanish and Latin Ameri
can dances with narrations by
Jack Lotz.
As of this date only three‘paid
assemblies have been scheduled.
They are the program to be given
Friday: Rodman, April 30: and
Carl Johephs, February 5.
These assemblies cost the stu
dents only twenty cents for the
year.
Two clubs, Service and Good
.Sports, gave bids to juniors and
(seniors on Weduesday ol last week.
Service Ciub bids were issued to
’iMarg&ret Daughtridge, Kay Con-
gleton, Eddie Pennington, Betty
Ivey. Johnny Warren, Marty Pvr-
vis, Audrey Kennedy, Sue Yeyver-
ton, Bobby Wimberly, Sandy
Thorpe, Jessie Pittman and Judy
Brewer. Of these five ai’e seniors
and seven are juniors.
Good Sports bids were received
by seniors: Penn Strandbery,
Elizabeth Vann, Nancy Hollings
worth, Bimny Crowley, Key Con-
gleton, and juniors: Miml Brewer.
Audrey Kennedy and Sue Yelver-
ton.
Members of the Service Club are
chosen on the basis of services
done by them for-the school. Both
girls and boys are eligible for
membersliip. Good Sports mem
bers are girls only. They are pick
ed for their outstanding sports
manship qualities.
Musettes Teach First Grades
Musettes are really “on the ball”
this year, having completed sev
eral projects already.
At the begirming of the year the
Musettes arranged vases of flow
ers for the new teachers in all of
the schools. Posters w^ere also
made welcoming the students and
teachers back. Many other proj
ects have been planned under the
capable advisership of Mrs. Ora
VanBuskirk and Miss Ella Moore.
Six of the Musettes substituted
as first grade teachers at Braswell
school beginning September 16 for
three days. These girls—Barbara
Sultan, Jessie Pittman, Betty Sue
Cash, Peggy Jo Geddie, Nancy
Hollingsv.'^ th, and Wilma Jean
Doj olhy and Bugs Ba hnger.
local professional photogi ajJhers
who are known to all students at
the Rocky Mount senior high
school, are sponsoring a “Glamor
Girl of the, Month” contest. A bal
lot i."; being printed elsewhere In
the Blackbird so you may vote for
your choice.
The first contest will close Oct,
15 when all ballots must be in.
There is no entrance fee. All you
have to do is to clip the ballot
fi-om the Blackbird and deposit it
at Barringer’s, 129 Western Ave
nue. The winner will be notified.
After she is photographed, a large
portrait of the winner will be put
on display in the window at Bar
ringer’s. Be sure to clip your ballot
out of the Blackbird today.
Campbell—read stories and took
care of first graders for one hour
each day. This was an excellent
experience for these future teach
ers.
This organization was active
last year and their plans show
that they will be equally so this
year.
Invitations from the club will
be Issued in the near future to
those planning to be teachers.
Additional prejects for this year
include serving as gulde^ to the
open house at P. T. A., giving an
assembly and baby-sitting at
Edgemont during P. T. A. meet
ings. They will also send delegates
to the State Teachers’ meeting.
Delegates Attend
Red Cross Meet
Dan Johnson and Lucinda
Oliver recently attended a Junior
Red Cross leadership 'Training
Center at Camp Green Cove near
Hendersonville.
Approximately 140 delegates
were present from the eight states
in the south-eastern area, Lucinda
and Dan were the only delegates
from eastern North Carolina.
At the training center the mem
bers were given pointers on organ
izing J. R. C. Councils in their
schools. Thev learned, J,oo, of Red
Cross activities in which Junior
members may participate at home
as well as abroad. PlDns are al
ready underway in the Rnckv
Mount senior high to take part in
many of these activities.
Enrollment for membership will
be in October and everyone is
urged to participate.
Rocky Mount senior high school
faculty has three new members
this year—one each In the drama
tics, Latin and music departments.
Miss Winifred Harris, teacher
of dramatics and world history, is
a graduate of Rocky Mount high
school. She got her A. B. from
Salem College in Winston-Salem
with a major in French and Eng
lish.
Under the Fulbright Program
through the Institute of Interna
tional Education, she taught Eng
lish conversation at the Ecole
Normale d’ Institute In Jullouville,
Fiance. While In France she had
a chance to study at the Univer
sity of Rennes In Brittany.
Former Wilkinson Teacher
Miss Louise Parker, teacher of
Latin and psychology, taught in
Wilklnsln School before coming to
RMHS. She taught In the schools
of Raleigh and Wilson and at
Benvenue School In Nash County.
Miss Parker, who Is also a
RMHS graduate, received her
college training at Duke Univer
sity where she received an A. B.
degree. While at Duke she became
a member of the Phi Beta Kappa;
honorary scholastic fratem't.y, anfl
the Kappa Delta PI, national
honorary educational fraterixity.
Ex*Psratr»o*cr
Mr. Ernest G. Black, band di
rector. comes to RMHS from Rob-
ersonville, where he was band di
rector last year. Mr. Black is a na
tive of Portsmouth, Va. He served
in the Paratroopers for eighteen
months in 1946 and can ko into
the Air Force , with a commission
if he is called. He graduated from
East Carolina College with a major
in musical education. He plans to
go to gradu&te school next year to
get his Masters degree.
Mr. Black hopes to take the
band to the Nash County Parade
and to the ECC Homecoming on
October 10.
NEWSEES
Tommy is in his sophomore year
been named to the Colgate Uni
versity Dean’s list for the coming
semester. To be on the Dean’s list
requires at least a B-plus average
for the previous semester.
Tommy is in his sophomore year
at Colgate. He entered with an
Alumni Memorial Scholarship in
1952.
Nash and Edgecombe boys who
are ex-POW’s from Korea are to
be honored with a parade and
banquet sponsored by the Rocky
Mount Civic clubs. The date is not
yet definite.
Dan Wheeless and Charles
Brantley are two of the boys to be
honored.
The Rocky Mount high school
'band and .several other units are
to provide music for the occasion.
Constantine George (Deno)
Pantelakos has been accepted for
the Emke School of Medicine. He
has recently completed \mder-
graduate work at ’Trinity College,
Duke University.
Mrs. Ora VanBuskirk, Mr. Earl
Privott, Mrs. Gladys Robbins, Misi
Irma Vause aiid Miss Alau
Murchison attended the annual
joint conference for the Class
room Teachere Association at the
Hugh Morson high school in Ra
leigh. September 19.
Mrs. VanBuskirk is the local
PTA president. Mr. Privott and
Mrs. Robbins are district chair
men. and Miss Vause and Miss
Murchison are local chairmen.