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Editorials
ROBERT KNOX, Editor-in-chief
Education, Its Opportunities
And Methods Of Attainment
Many of you at West Georgia are now beginning a
new phase of your lives—that of enter ing College.
Perhaps your high school ambitions were to go to
College, and again, perhaps you are here merely to
fulfill someone else’s wish. Just here —and with
nothing more than a vague idea of the what and
why of your duties here.
Education is a broad word and covers many
fields, but on careful consideration, one learns that
education can be gained not through many fields,
but only by the sincere, honest work of the individ
ual—you, and you alone, will determine the type
and amount of education that will become yours.
Education is an expensive and well developed
institution, billions of dollars have been poured out
in teaching. Billions more have been expended for
books, buildings, and the-other material sides of
education. Thousands of men have spent their lives
studying how to Improve the learning process, and
the acquisition of knowledge is now easier than it
ever has been.
Is it worth it? Is there enough real benefit, real
education to compensate for all the effort involved?
Do modern 1936 schools turn out better men and
women than the schools of 1636? Although the
actual amount of knowledge is obviously much great
er, has there been any improvement of character and
h appiness through pedagogy? Or has the ease of
learning under present school conditions, with high
ly skilled teachers and marvelous buildings, with
every possible effort directed at instilling knowledge
into the heads of youth, made things too easy?
Of course that is not really a serious or solid argu
> 'onl. Only questions concerning individuals can
be decided by using individuals as proof, and the
basic question of whether the older schools where
education had to be fought for, or the new system
in which learning is forced on you is the better, still
remains to be answered.
First, however, a definition of education must be
made.
Education is, basically, training in the art of rea
son h nd in character. It is not the mere ac
cumulation of a large number of facts such as Co
lumbus discovered America in 1492; that is not the
real purpose of scholastic training; rather, it is in
instruction in how to use your mind to solve all the
manv problems encountered in a life time, and how
to carry through your solution. The educated man
can find ah the facts he wants and understand them
with just little work all he really knows is how to
find and apply them.
That th* question may be re stated this time be
comes: w th systems, the get-it-all-yourself or the
present or’ trains the best in thinking?
Under e old schooling methods the weaker
minds wen crushed by the hardships of the method.
The brain eft few in the labyrinth of incomprehend
ed facts, c:. -ed not to coordinate the mixture and re
mained free —that is, undisciplined. The better
minds hov ever, gained immensely by the sharpness
of the struggle.
Now, the weaker intellects receive all the support,
all the aid. There are special classes for the back
ward pupil courses are simplified to permit the pooi
esl brains to get through and get that high school
or college diploma.
Under this system there is no conflict for the bet
ter minds. The boys who would be the Lincolns of
tomorrow have nothing comparable to the log cabin,
the open fire, the rail-splitting, the constant strug
gle, struggle that made Lincoln’s indomitable char
acter the steel bar that it was.
Strength, the strength of mind and character form
ed by conflict, must come from somewhere if we are
to endure. The generations that fought for independ
ence, that crossed the Alleghenies, the Mississippi
and the Rockies were hardier than ours. Although
the pioneers could not tell you, perhaps, what the
squhre root of minus one is, they were the fine men.
If we are not formed stronger, if strength does not
come to us from somewhere our civilization will
perish.
Then, students of West Georgia College —the thing
for you to do is to get in there on the firing line,
and g&t'all you can out of this situation. Don’t just
rock along on the wind —put forth something, and
you will gain individually your education. As has
been said before, an education is an individual affair
—determine that when you return to your home,
and education will accompany you.
®l|e Uest (Smytrnt
PRANK KELLY, Managing Editor
Screanulines
Owen Malcolm’s favorite flow
er, Polnsetta.
* * *
Isn’t it a pity that Stewart Mc-
Kibben always falls for a gold-dig
ger?
* * *
From the appearance of the front
campus Sunday afternoon it seems
that the romantic side of W. G. C.
life has started with a bang.
* * *
Freshmen girls. Watch your
step! “Heart-Breaker-I’m-an-answer
to-a-maiden’s-prayer”, Stephens is
at his old tricks.
* * *
Will Mr. Strozier never get a
rest? Marion Huddleston and Ger
aldine Mcßrayer are now taking
the place of Tom and Jane.
* * *
Too bad for brunettes —Gilbert
prefers blonds. Woe is me!
** * "
Mr. Hart: “Kissing y9ur wife is
like scratching the itch.”
* * *
Carolyn, Robert prefers blonds.
This means oxide for a year.
Marge Bowen: “Is he fresh! I
had to salp him three times before
I finally gave in.”
* * *
The co-ed who hesitates is lost.
* * *
While Kitty is away, Bob will
play.
* * *
What freshman wrote “yes” as
the date of her exam?
* *
And Ruth, where’s Plunkett?
* * *
By the way, we hear that Stro
zier pulled a fast one not only on
us but also on the Denver, Colo
rado cops by stepping on the gas
and burning up the streets of that
city.
* * *
Co-eds are temperamental: 90
per cent temper and 10 per cent
mental.
* * *
You’ve no doubt heard of the
Freshman who wanted to be a mo
torman on a street car so that he
could kick the gong around.
Poetic Nonsense
Magnolia, Elvira, and Mabel
All sitting at the library table
Ten until nine . . just time for a
prank,
Tch, tch girls, Miss Ward Spank.
* * *
I’m only five feet four,
Built on a slender plan,
And yet every girl I know,
Calls me her “great big man”!
(J. J. Rivers).
W-l]e JHHest d>eor£tan
Member of The Georgia Collegiate Press Association 1936
Associate Editor —Bob Richardson
Assistant Editor—Owen Malcolm
FEATURE DEPARTMENT: Editor,
Betty Ann Sewell; Writers: Bobby Jus
tice, Hettie Chandler, Emma Ruth
Mitchell, Mozelle Taylor, Virflinia Rainey,
Norman Tant and Esther Rose Zill.
Exchange Editor —Max Beck.
ARE YOU PLANNING TO
PARTICIPATE?
Certainly the aim of every in
stitution is to offer very student
the opportunity of a well develop
ed vision of life. Cooperation,
sportsmanship, and the idea of
pleasant living have long since
held equal positions with the aca
demic part of an education.
West Georgia College offers an
activity for every student’s inter
ests and abilities. A variety of
sports sponsors recreation; numbers
of societies afford a chance to bet
ter one’s self socially, musically,
religiously, and literally; and clubs
designed to exercise various tal
ents. Participation in any of these
activities means contacts with stu
dents and faculty members; other
wise the student would not get
them.
For those who excel in any of
the sciences, West Georgia College
offers an honorary scientific soci
ety, namely, the Mu Zeta Alpha,
which has as its faculty advisors
Mr. Hart, Dr. Lang, and Mr. How
ell.
For those who find interests in
the social sciences, there is a na
tional honorary society, having as
its directors Mr. L. E. Roberts and
Mr. J. C. Bonner.
In the field of sports, one may
specialize or may merely derive
the pleasure and enjoyment he re
ceives from playing. For the bene
fit of those who do not wish to
specialize, the intramural games
are scheduled which offer compe
tition without the pomp found in
the intercollegiate matches.
The Vouluntary Religious Asso
ciation, under the able supervision
of Miss Downs and Andy Floyd is
without a doubt an asset to the
entire campus. This association is
non-denominational and everyone
is urged to attend.
These organized activities have
a definite place in the college cur
ricula, have specially designed
meeting places, and cordially in*
vite all to partiepiate in their ac
tivities.
To add prestige to the college,
Mr. Gordon Watson and Miss Dor
othy St. Clair have under their sup
ervision the Men’s and Women’s
Glee Clubs respectively. The Mens
Club on their trips last year acted
as an advertising medium as well
as an entertaining source to the
various cities in this section.
For those who understand Mr.
Strozier when he begins “Bon
joui'ning” and “Mon Classing”
there is a French Club. This club
receives its members through in
vitation only and does much to
elevate the cultural side of our
life.
Surely no school would be com
plete without a year book and a
regular newspaper. The Chieftian
and the West Georgian, the editors,
and the staffs appointed for each
publication are certainly holding
their ends of the ropes or better,
are trying in a hard way.
REPORTING STAFF: Paul Hurt,
Raymond Hill, Claire McLarty, Rosalind
Hayes, A. Richstone, Margaret Bowen,
C. D. Bailey, Florine Watson and Pledg
er Carmichael.
BUSINESS STAFF: Assistant Man
agers, Glenn Hogan, Weems Boyd, Lewis
B. Reese, Bobby Justice, J. G. Robert
son, Virginia Shoffeit, Horton Greene,
and Elizabeth Burnham.
Faculty Advisor—Robert M. Strozier.
Features
0. N. TODD, Business Manager
HERE AND THERE WITH THE
EDITOR
By ROBERT KNOX
We hope quite patiently that this year the stu
dents of the College will give the West Georgian and
its staff fairer chances in publication, in assistance,
and in general criticism.
Last year the staff was unfortunate in many re
spects. Although no personal harm is meant on our
part, the staff lacked in its leadership the elements
which are required of any editor —that is, there
was no consistency, little harmony, and less interest
shown by the editor for the newspaper staff as a
whole.
Furthermore, if there were any student representa
tion existing in such positions as reporters, sports
writers, and feature writers (sometimes the very life
if a newspaper) we saw none of it.
This year’s plans call for promotions of such posi
tionsrand an attempt—whether it be a success or a
failure —to assist in the training and preparation of
editors and writers for next year’s newspaper.
As in all cases, there was a redeeming agent which
can’t be overlooked. The agent was the financial
side of the paper. The West Georgian was the only
organization on the campus which ended the year’s
activities with actual cash on hand, it was reported.
Therefore, we ask you to be gentle at present —un-
til we, the staff, untrained and unprepared as we
are, get on our feet and get an issue or two out to
you.
Credit should be given where credit is due. Sun
day, September 27, the Voluntary Religious Society,
under the direction of Miss Katie Downs and Andy
Floyd, gave to the college one of the most enjoyable
Vesper Services ever. Not only did Floyd and Miss
Downs surprise us at the first services with a splen
did speaker and refreshments, but the manner in
which everything went off tended to put everyone
in the right mood to enjoy the coming services as
well as getting many of the students on the right
road religiously.
While we are dealing out compliments, it might be
said, quite truthfully, that Floyd fulfilled his prom
ise to give the college a good Vesper Service speaker.
WHAT IS A DAY STUDENT?
By NORMAN TANT
On every campus and in every school there is al
ways a certain number of students who live off the
campus. They are called “day students”. Conse
quently there is the question in certain dormitory
students minds, “Are day students full-fledged stu
dents?”
Being a day student merely means that he or
she is lucky to live close enough to avoid board
bills. This arrangement has conveniences and incon
veniences.
Among the conveniences are: You can get the
quietness at night in case you want to study. You
can tap the pater’s poeketboolc more handily. You
can continue to have your eggs cooked in your own
peculiar way, and you can have- your coffee made
to your instruction.
Now r for the inconveniences: When you live at
home, you are exposed to withering sarcasm of
Junior who doubts very much your assumed col
legiate accent and manners. Junior also has a way
of finding out your private sins and secrets. Your
folks many times openly doubt That you are a
genius on the make which is disconcerting to say
the least. When you are in the dormitory, you can
alw r ays find some sap w 7 ho will believe you to be a
regular Don Juan which relieves congestion of the
ego. You can strut like a bantam rooster around
the dames without the family finding out, and can
accent like an English dude and not be openly
laughed at.
Dormitory Freshmen, (and girls also) don’t get
the idea that because you live in the dormitory and
another one lives in tow r n, you should be more
collegiate than he. The day student is a vital
part of West Georgia College,
r Last year there w r as only a tinge of dorimtory vs
I day student feeling. Let’s w r ipe all of that out and
be boosters for West Georgia College!