Newspaper Page Text
PAGE TWO
.. THE FIFTH FREEDOM ..
By MAX PRINCE
When you read a book, do you ever pause
and think for a moment about what you have
just done? Actually, you have done some
thing very difficult, though you are so used to
it that it seemed easy. You had to be taught
to do this, and probably many teachers strug
gled with you before it could be said that you
could read and understand what you read.
You owe those teachers a great debt. They
gave you the key to freedom.
There are other teachers, now, in your
home towns, who are trying to give this key
to other children. They are tired, discouraged
people. Some left teaching last year for jobs
that have a shorter working day, which are
decently paid, which offer a better standing in
the community, and a more normal private
life. Unless the present trend is reversed,
more will leave this year, and the available
replacements will be fewer and more poorly
prepared. The sad truth is that able young
people are avoiding this profession.
Hvery year thousands of normally intelli
gent youngsters end their schooling unable
to do what you do very often, and take for
granted—read and understand a book. In
overcrowded classes, with overworked teach
ers, with textbooks that are too few and too
old, they will not have grasped this important
key to freedom.
This is the crisis in American education; it
is here; it is real; and it is dangerous beyond
words.
Asa nation we have joined others in a
desire to realize the four freedoms. But there
is a fifth freedom more fundamental than
any of the others, and that is the freedom
from Ignorance. The ignorant man is the
easiest prey to want and fear. Freedom of
religion means little to him, and a free press
means nothing, for even if, technically, he
can read, he cannot understand what he reads.
He is a danger to himself, to you, to this coun
try, and to the world.
You can help. Visit your local schools.
See what can be done to attract and keep
able teachers. Support larger appropriations
for salaries, equipment and textbooks. This
brings it home to you. The Minimum Foun
dation for Georgia will come up in this session
of the State Legislature. What have you
done to help this very important and essential
bill to pass? You could see your Representa
tive and urge him to support it.
Without this program Georgia schools
will be set back fifty years and, on the other
hand, with it they will be able to compare fa
vorably with those of other states. This will
cost you some time, and perhaps a little
money, but it will be the best investment of
both that you have ever made. Our teachers
mold our nation’s future. Give them your aid.
CAPITALISM v. UNIONISM
By JIM HAMILTON
It seems that the fight between Capitalism
and Unionism is never-ending. Since the be
ginning of labor organizations in the twenties,
industry has waged an intense battle of bitter
words and actions against the outrageous de
mands for higher wages and shorter working
hours. At the same time, Labor has sought to
bind itself tgether in an effort to do as a
group those things they could not do as indi
viduals.
At the present reigns the problem of the
Taft-Hartley Labor Bill, which, if allowed to
remain a law, will weaken considerably the
unions’ rights to strike at any time. Even now
a great deal of turmoil is rifling its way
through Labor and Congress.
In the Presidential election of last Novem
ber, Labor (AFL and CIO) banded together
with the hope that their mass vote might cast
out of Congress those men who voted for the
Taft-Hartley Bill. Even the President is op
posing this bill, which prohibits Labor from
making unrightful demands on industry. In
his campaign for the presidency, Mr. Truman
stated that he would do all that was in his
power to strike this bill from the records (the
outcome will probably be a compromise). If
this happens, Labor will, of course, continue
with its imperialistic methods of attaining its
major and minor whimsies at uncalled-for
times and rates.
Critics favoring the unions believe that
industry would barbarously submit workers to
the lowest standards of living if it were not
for the well organized labor of today. But if
these people would only remember the bene
fits that industry gave workers back in the
twenties, when unions were not so well organ
ized. then perhaps they can understand why so
many other people resent the means used by
unions today to satisfy their desires. There is
a law against monopolies. Then why not ask
ourselves, Is not organized labor a monopoly
on human lives?
West Georgian Staff, 1948-1949
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF J. C. Lovett
ASSOCIATE EDITOR Max Prince
FEATURE EDITOR Elizabeth Ross
SPOTLIGHT EDITOR Carl Haywood
NEWS EDITOR Jim Hamilton
SPORTS EDITOR J. C. Lovett
WOMEN’S SPORTS Jo Perkins
FASHION EDITOR Doris Gray
PHOTOGRAPHER Brooke Johnson
BUSINESS MANAGER Jackie Hay
CIRCULATION MANAGER Jane Greer
FACULTY ADVISOR Miss Marie Campbell
REPORTERS: Margery Greene, Marion ihvir.g "lata Crews,
Ann Bing, Ashley Morgan,, Bill Prescott, Helen Sullins, Barbara
Goen.
A Token of Appreciation
Mrs. Warren C. Cantrell, representing the Woman’s Society
of Christian Service of the First. Methodist Church, has ren
dered a distinct service to the students and faculty of the Col
lege by presenting and arranging flowers for the stage at the
fall chapel services.
Flowers are not always easy to secure. Added to this, the
time and inconvenience of coming out to the College and mak
ing the necessary arrangements. Reflecting on this act of
kindness reminds the reader that too often good deeds are
taken for granted. Too often children and elders alike fail to
express appreciation for many things done for them by loved
ones, friends and others.
Our greetings and appreciation to Mrs. Cantrell.
FRANKLY SPEAKING
J. C. LOVETT
How Your Student Activity Fee Is Used. Only too often you
hear a student complaining that he is not getting very much in
return for his activity fee which, at West Georgia College, is
*10.50 yearly. It isn’t hard to find individuals—and a surprising
number, at that—who accuse the school of “making a killing”
off the bank rolls of the student body.
There’s no denying that to some of us, even in these infla
tionary times, *10.50 is still a lot of money. The fact of the
matter is the duration has obviouslv lasted longer than the war,
and those old greenbacks just don’t have the purchasing power
they once did. Ig the *10.50 assessment seems somewhat s+eer>.
consider the number of activities for which the fee is spent. I
dare say most people don’t.
Three dollars of the fee is made available to the Chieftain,
the other *7.50 being used for general distribution. Under the
heading of “distribution” come such items as trips for students
'(choir, debating team, etc.), public sneakers, intramurals, dra
matics, and THE WEST GEORGIAN. Health examinations,
simple medical treatment, and a portion of the nurse’s salarv
not to mention all student entertainment series, are also listed
under distribution. The college pavs the difference between the
price of student tickets, which is 2 5 cents, and the regular admis
sion of *1.25, in order to encourage student attendance to the
series.
Contrary to belief, however, the student activity fee does
not make it possible for you to see athletic contests free of
charge. This privilege is the result of vour paving an Inter
collegiate Athletic fee of *6.00, which also provides transporta
tion, meals, equipment, athletic awards, etc., for varsity teams of
West Georgia College. The athletic fee, bv the way, was voted
on by the student body in 1946.
According to the business office, the 1948 edition of the year
book received *2,700 of he student activity funds, with *771.19
being furnished for publication of the student newspaper. The
amount of *2,029.1 1 was paid out for chapel speakers, decora
tions for parties and dances, and a number of other miscellaneous
items. Additional expenditures were as follows: Entertainment
Series, *480; student travels, *3B 1.82; VRA, *300; and speakers
for various clubs, *35.65.
Perhaps the above explanation of how the activity fees are
used will, at least in part, clear up the question which has been in
the minds of quite a few students for some time.
*****
Campus Bulletin Boards In Deplorable Condition. —Despite
the campus beautification program which is currently under way
at West Georgia, progress is being held back to some extent by
the sloppy appearance created by the deplorable condition of
some of the bulletin boards located in various campus buildings.
As for arrangement, there is none whatever. In fact, these
cluttered-up boards are in such disorder that you would hardly
be able to find your name if it were listed somewhere. There
seems to be no beginning or end.
Objectionable, also, is the failure of certain responsible per
sons to remove notices which they posted on the boards. Per
haps they expect someone to do that for them; nevertheless, in
many instances it isn’t done at all. Oftentimes you see notices
still occupying space on the boards which are, in a sense, ancient.
An example of this is the poster advertising the Christmas con
cert, December 12, which had remained up through the middle
of January.
Such oversight, carelessness or laziness, whichever you
prefer, is uncalled for, especially in an institution of higher edu
cation. It is definitely a hindrance to students in that it reduces
the efficiency even if only slightly—of groups as well as
individuals.
Who’s to blame? Probably most of us are, if the truth were known,
even some of the faculty. But since I don’t intend an expose of those
persons who are. or who have indulged in “bulletin boarditis.” I shall
be more concerned with how to solve the problem.
One solution, particularly, for the large bulletin board in the hall of
the Academic Building might be to divide the space in sections for
clubs, religious activities, entertainment athletics, etc. Our news editor.
Jim Hamilton, suggested that each club or organization be assigned to
keep the boards in order for a certain period time. Although the idea
itself was good, we should not allow ourselves to reach the point of
untidiness so that it is necessary to send a clean-up squad along in our
footsteps to keep things in order.
"If you put it up, don’t forget to take it down. Let’s keep posted!’’
THB WEST GEORGIAN
Campus Spotlight
jBF A
) * -
* 1
Eloise Duke
Have you ever wondered why everything
is so nice and orderly around Melson Hall?
Worker no longer, friend, ’cause ’most every
one knows it’s “Sunshine” who is behind it all.
Some call her Pete, some Sunshine, and some
call her Eloise, but we all agree that one of
the finest girls on campus is Eloise Duke.
“Sunshine” was born on February 23,
1930, in Lamar County, Georgia. After sev
enteen years of hard work she graduated from
Milner High School in 1947. She was very
active in 4-H work in Lamar County, and
attended several district 4-H meetings at West
Georgia College. Well, to make a short story
shorter, she saw what she liked and likesd
what and saw, and enrolled at West Georgia!
Here Miss Duke became not only the secretary
of FTA, and treasurer of the 4-H Club, but
also assistant to the Dean of Women.
“Sunshine” is working toward a normal
certificate, and plans to go to the University
of Georgia in the fall of ’49, to seek a B. S.
degree in elementary education. (She says
she isn’t smart enough to teach high school.)
Eloise says she likes the “new look,” de
spises the “big stare,” and wishes men’s styles
would change. Her current favorite in men’s
styles is bell-bottom trousers!
“Sunshine” loves everybody, even her
room-mate, Anne Miller. She has chosen baby
sitting as a second vocation, and is an expert
of wide renown on the mechanics of “coke”
machines. She likes to travel, having been
to California and up to Washington, D. C.
and she swoons over Cary Grant as a favorite
movie actor. In food, she likes “anything but
collards!”
When “Sunshine” graduates in June,
West Georgia will lose one of its most valu
able personalities. Good luck, Sunshine!
Beverly Bowles
About once in each generation there ap
pears one member of the human species who
is really outstanding. We don’t know what
this has to do with Beverly Bowles, but he is
the subject under discussion. Beverly is out
standing in that he is the only student in West
Georgia who holds a master’s degree in ad
vanced CAMPUSOLOGY.
Mr. Bowles was born! ! ! We could stop
there, but we may as well add that that occur
rence took place in the city of Thomaston,
Georgia, on September 4, 1930. He attended
Robert E. Lee Institute in Thomaston, but
moved to Warner Robins before his sopho
more year, graduating from Warner Robins
High in 1947.
Beverly entered West Georgia in Sep
tember, 1947, and immediately made a hit
with the students and faculty. In fact, they
liked him so well they elected him to be pres
ident of the Sophomore Class. Besides being
president of the Sophomore Class, Beverly is
a member of Alpha Phi Omega and the Pres
idents’ Club. He likes sports, especially foot
ball, basketball and baseball. His favorite ex
pression is, “Has anybody got any grub? I’m
hungry!” And his favorite food is barbecue.
Mr. Bowles says that he is really allergic
to women, but liked Ava Garner very much
in the movie “One Touch of Venus.” Other
allergies include math, English, and physics.
He has a peculiarity which makes it necessary
for his room-mate, Jim Hamilton, to sing
him to sleep every night.
All in all, we must admit that Beverly is
very intelligent, has quite a personality, and
is one of our most reliable students. (He can
shag, too! ! !!) Hats off to a fine fellow!
Tuesday, January 25, 1949