PAGE TWO
THE TWIG
December 14, 1935
lWi«
Puhtished Biweekly as the Official Organ of the Shident
Bo&v 0/ Jfercditft College .
Pauijnb Pbbby - Editor
Kathbkinb Shuforb ; Associate Editor
Mary Fort Caiuiok. BttsJness Manager
Martha Mbssbnob® Manaffing Editor
Frasobs Pittman.. Managing Editor
Mary Johnsok MAoMirxAW Managing Editor
Isabel Ross ...-AJsiafani Businas Manager
Kate Mills Suiter iAseistant Business Manager
BXizabeth Bullard - Tvp^t
CATHEBirrE JOHKSON
HEU.EN EdUor
Reporters
Kate Covington CnAnLorrE WBSTEtt
Ethel Knott Lillian Poe
ADBL.AIDB HAU&IS MARY BANRS
Grace Bbtts Ella Frajtoes Tatum
Maby Pay MoMillan EnyA Frances Dawkins
Dorothy Lowpkbmilk
Entered as sectind'ClBas matter October 11. 1923, at Postofflce at
Raleigh, N. C., under Act ot March 3, 1879.
Acceptance for mallins at special rate of postage provided for fo
Section 1103, Act ot October 3, 1917. authorized October 11, 1923.
Subscription Price—
um I I
IN DEFENSE OF THE STUDENT
Perhaps there can never be perfect understanding between
faculty and students—certainly nothing approaching that, in spite
of conscientious effort on both sides, has been achieved in tlie
present system. In the larger university the effort has ceased.
The average student is as strange to his professor as any chance
passerby. Hut in the smaller college, >vhere education is still
largely “spoon fed” to tlie students, they and the faculties are each
still vainl)'^ trying to adjust themselves to the habits of thinking
and attitude toM'ard study of the other. The fault lies witli neither
group, or both—that is why the adjustment is so difficult.
The attitude toward study is where tlie main difference of
opinion lies. The student, because of liis youth and “bumptous-
ness,” cannot but think tliat his professor lays undue stress on
scholasticism—that he expects too much in the way of research,
and detailed study. On the other hand the j>i‘ofessor is apt to
grow cynical about youth and allow falling short of the ideal he
lias set up for his students to dampen his avdor for teaching.
One of his main cries against the student is that he is no longer
interested in the cultural courses he is offered. The professor
points to his small classes in philosophy, in advanced languages,
and literature in contrast to the overcrowded vocational classes.
He claims that the student cares only for the course that will bring
money to his pocket M'hen he is through. Practical courses and
specialized studies are his whole thought.
Tlie professor is partlj’ right, but in defense of the student,
may it be said that the existing social order is more to be blamed
than lie. He reads constantly about the millions of unemployed.
Under the ijnpression that it will spur the student on to greater
efforts, the chapcl si>eaker holds forth on “Ph.D.’s on relief.”
The student reads appalling figures that show how low a per
centage of college graduates secure positions. Is it any wonder
that in a sort of frenzy, he dashes out to sign up for the most
technical coui’ses he can get? He is convinced that he’s got to be
better at something thnn anybody else if the world is to think him
worth a living, so he picks out that something and forgets all else
in a mad effort to learn everything aboxit it. The art, and litera-
tui’e, and music courses are for rich men’s sons—he must stick to
his machines and microscopes and find in them wliat joy he can.
Tiu'ce hours a semester spent in feeding his soul (much as he’d
like to) means three liours less knowledge of how to feed his body.
It may be on this very ground that someday faculties aiid stu
dents will becomc a little more tolerant and a little more under
standing of each other. Together, perhaps, some system can be
worked out so that cultural and technical training can be combined.
Or maybe it’ll become easier to get jobs.—K. S.
Open Forum
Dear Ealtor:
There ia sometlilng vitally wrong
with a student body which does not
support student activities in which all
are Invited to participate. The pro
portion of students wlio attended the
excellent presentation by the Little
Theatre several nights ago was sur
prisingly small. The proportionate
number of faculty members was much
greater. Whatever else some of you
say about our faculty, they certainly
support our student activities. The
small student attendance at "Scrooge”
Is a manifestation of something deep
and underlying among our students
the presence of which, unless it is
done away with, will spell disaster
for what we are pleased to term our
"School Spirit?” Fraukly, we don't
have any such thing if our loyalty Is
measured by our support oC student
affairs.
Those who attended Sunday school
last Sunday (attendance was volun
tary, so most of you may skip this)
learned that witliont cooperation a
group can never attain to Us highest
degree of development. We expect
people to think well of our institution,
but we ourselves don’t betray much co
operation and devotion on our parts.
Even if we can not be appealed to
from any other standpoint, then for
the love of heaven consider it from
a purely selflsh one, if that will bring
results. Many of ua, nnt many weeks
hence, will be walking the weary way
of jobseekers. No employer wants
an employee who can't or won’t be
loyal. And our attitude toward our
school will play a large part iii our
securing our positions. There is some
thing which people recogiiiae as fine
in loyalty.
Meredith is what it Is partly because
of the scholastic standards which it
measures up to, lint it is what Is also
because of what we as students make
It by our loyalty to what it is and
what we hope it will be, The college
exists for the stndents and not the
students for the college. What it Is
we make It. Let’s revive our spirit,
freshen our devotion, and Increase our
loyalty!
M. H.
We*re Off!
Girls can't bo expected miraculously
to become women on the day they
march down the atele for their dlplo*
ma or even In the following three
months. They are women either when
they are seniors or they never will be.
A set of restrictions covering trivial
matters will be about as much help
as the proverbial row of pins in bring
ing about such a miraculous change.
I conclude then, that seniors should
be treated as women. I dare say that
they will respond as such. IE they
don't—but I have already intimated
that we are not running a reform
schoolr
D. D.
TWO JUNIORS ELECTED
TOSILVER SHIELD
(Continued from page one)
ular elections from the junior class.
the society has the privilege of receiv
ing two more seniors who seem to
have .qualified themselves. In this
manner, transfer students may have
the opportunity of membership.
PAGEANT TO BE PRESENTED
BY SOCIETIES DECEMBER 17
(Continued from page one)
A Page Dorothy Crawford
Galahad .Carolyn Parker
Bedivero Susan Ennna Sloan
Gareth Irene Tuthill
Tristram Katherine Martin
Percival :..Annle Elizabeth Coward
Modred Catherine Johnson
Three Damsels: Elizabeth Davidson
Catherine Canady
Mary Jane Lindley
Another Damsel Dorothy D. Browne
On Having **Arrived**
By KATE COVINGTON
Dear Editor:
From all evidences I think we liave
yet to wake up to the fact that John
Dewey was right when he said,
"School should be life and not a
preparation for life." If college is to
guide—and that should be Its primary
purpose—then it ought to guide the
students In the same sort of respon-
slbilitioa which they are to shoulder
when they leave school. Instead of
doing this, rosponslbilitles are taken
away from us in order to prepare us
for responsibilltiea. A queer incon
sistent school system I would say. I
willluii'ly admit that there are some
students who, In their i^rst years of
college life, need a degree worse than
guidance. Dut then, too. there are re
form schools. Nevertheless, even the
worst, with the right kind of help dur
ing the first years oC college, should
be able by her senior year to use her
own discretion in her activities^ I do
not mean to assert that seniors should
be "foot-loose and fancy-free,” Even
the most democratic government does
not provide for that. However, I do
mean that seniors are capable of
knowing just how, foolish it is to he
“foot-looso and fancy-free,” That is
the point! If they don't know, then
the school administrators have failed
to jjerform their duty.
We want to live while we are In
school. A mere acquaintance with the
activities In which wo will take part
when we get out of school la not
enough. The logical seciuel t6 this
would be to live the same life when
we flnlsh college as we have prac
ticed while there. What a far more
suitable word praolioe Is than that
seemingly hopeless word prepa7ation!
Last week I got put on the staging
committee for the Phi-Astro Christ
mas pageant, as I loped up to the Phi
hall (with abandon) to be on time
for the first practice so they could
see I had the spirit of the thing at
heart, etc. Later Mary Johnson ac
cused me of having racial prejudices
becanso I passed her without speak
ing.
When I arrived I' saw a soi)homore
getting n running start and sliding
half-way across the room on a little
rug, a faculty member looking wor
ried, somebody evidently trying to
out-tune the piano, and both society
presidents looking wan and pensive.
They decided to read the cast aloud,
wherein the magic carpet business
ceased: the piano player changed from
Pagan Love Sonp to a little number
that sounded like a (-.roes between
Hmoke Gelx in Your Kyes and Blue
T)anuhe; and the faculty member
looked, about gleeful.
King Arthur made a bee-line for
the most comfortable seat on tho stage
and sank down. The Three Wise Men
wore clad respectively in Ijrlght red
twin sweaters, a brown polo coat, and
a knitted suit; -and acl;od a bit shy
at first, although afterwards they I’al-
lied round like a B. Y. P. U. social.
One of them got tickled and with the
Virgin Mary nearly broke up practice.
The angels clamped on, a bit bewild
ered by it all. King Arthur made
grimaces and craned his neck, the
better to view the script.
“ ‘A great desire stirs me’,” quoth
he, flluging his arms out like Anthony
honorabllzlng Brutus. There was a
bit of a pause because Sir Garreth
was telling one of the angels about
a new permanent—a crocronole too! —
and didn't recognize the cue,
“Can you blow a trnmpet?" asked
the faculty member, looking a trifle
anxious.
“No.” replied Sir Garreth, two of
the Wise Men, the Virgin, and some
body on the costume committoe.
Sir Percival was tired; and tried
leaning on the piano. King Arthur
was practicing soma kneeling he liad
to do in the next act. The Virgin
got cold and went away for her coat.
“Whore’s Lancelot?” asked the fac-
ulty memlior In disnmy.
“Taking u seven-thirty,’' ono of the
angels announced, looking up from a
passage of economic conditions she
was reading.
1 sat still, not daring to say any
thing. (Being several yards away
from the nearest person.)
“ ‘The Wise Men rose and went on
their way'," was read, whereupon not
only tho wise men left, Init one of the
angels. Sir Gareth, and tho entire
costume committee walkod gontly (but
firmly) away.
I niiide aomo marks Ilka the affect
of alcohol on the heart in my note
book, and'Shifted my position.
Mary Johnson was waiting outside
for me when it was over. She wanted
to go with riie to tho liljrary and play
tlt-tat-toe with me while we studied.
“Did you hear about our last Bcrooge
practice,” she asked with a grin, and
when I said no, she went on, “Igno*
ranee wasn't there. She’d gone to an
Art Lecture so I took her part, and—”
“Yea, yes," I smiled approvingly,
■‘things happen like that. Go on.”