The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 44, No. 2, Ed. 1 Friday, September 21, 1956 Page: 4 of 6
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THE THRESHER
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, l 5ft
! ;
The Vicious Circle
A high school senior preparing for college can^ake
yearbook, crafts, studyhall, physical education, English,
and civics—four light and two solid courses. We frankly
(tjuestion the value of a high school education which al-
: lows so many "play courses' - and so little preparation for
cbllege: Even a freshman entering Rice may have had
' only one science, while a year each of biology, chemistry,
' and physics would be valuable to college students of any
major. A' freshman may be acquainted with no other
history than American history. A knowledge of ancient
and "medieval history should be required of all entering
'students. A student may have taken two years of lan-
guage,' probably Spanish, in high school. Why shouldn't
he take three, even four years of the languages he'll
need—French, Latin, German ? Why does the high school
student have so many .electives? Why are his require-
ments so slight?
The effects of poor public school education are evi-
dent. Many university classes which should cover college
level material must begin with the basics which should
have been learned in high school, thus retarding the ex-
ceptional student in the one place he should receive prop-
er attention—college. Many students come to college
with no knowledge of the all-important tools he will need
there—the ability to study, to take notes, to scan books,
to write research papers.
The college student's growth as a critical scholar is
seriously hampered by his background. Until he is ac-
quainted with the "barest facts" of history, science, or
language he is not prepared to read original sources,
classics, and interpretations. Only when he has covered
the groundwork will he have the opportunity to do indi-
vidual research, to form his opinions from numerous and
conflicting sources, and to study the wealth of material
on any subject with a critical eye.
The vicious circle may continue. The student who
had to get his secondary education itf |he ftrst two years
of college may have to get his colUge education hi the
last two and so on, causing thb wliole of tlie American
educational system to be weak and inadequate.
We may not be able to dictate the quality of teach-
ing in the high schools. But we can dictate the subjects
taught". Only when the universities raise their entrance
, requirements will the high schools raise standards.
0
7he Heat Is On!
A rare time it is that-a student editorial is written
for the benefit of rather than in derision of the faculty.
A striking inadequacy, however, has come to light in
view of the recent plans to air-condition the girls' dormi-
tory and the Commons. Almost any day this hot fall one
can wander up to a professor's office in Anderson Hall
or one of the older buildings and find a professor wiping
his eminent face with a handkerchief already soaked
with perspiration. In his stuffy little office one may de-
tect one small fan, its gentle breeze fighting its way
through a veritable fog of hot air to provide the pleas-
ant, inspirii^ atmosphere which is fabled to surround
scholarly men.
It is not possible or practical for all the professors
to have offices in the Fondren Library which might fur-
nish this aura of cool contemplation which is so obviously
lacking. The faculty, furthermore, is frequently on the
campus a forty hour week and an eleven or twelve month
year. Few students are here this much without spending •
most of their time in the Library or the Lounge.
This editorial is not entirely altruistic. On occasion
students are also found in the association of professors.
The atmosphere is most uninviting for discussing, com-
plaining, or whatever our menial business may be.
We hope, with the present plans to provide a central
air-conditioning plant at Rice and the gradual realization
that one day the entire campus needs to be air-condi-
tioned, that our very hot and sweating professors may
, be the first to be emancipated from the intemperate
! temperatures.
■ L * ' "
THE RICE THRESHER
The Rice Thresher, written and edited by students of the Rice Institute,
in published weekly in Houston. Texan, except during the summer. It if not
published during holidays and examination weeks. The views presented are those
of the staff and do not necessarily reflect administrative policies of the Ri
Institute.
Editor y..,.w Donna Paul Martin
Business Manager CUf Carl
Associate Editor Herbert Simons
Managing Editor .-.. Jim Berahard
News Editor Bruea Montgomery
Make Up Editor
Sports Editor ./■
Threshing-It-Out
To The Editor,
Again this year the Forum
Committee will sponsor open dis-
cussions intended to inform and
enlighten the student body and
faculty. The first- Forum Com-
mittee meeting will be on Mon-
day, September 24 at 12:00 noon
in A. H. 106. Committee member-
ship is open to any student of
The Rice Institute. *
Jim Hedges, Chairman
0
What Are Main
issues In Race
For President ?
BY TQM CADY
The Democratic themes for
the Presidential campaign seem
to shape up as the "President is
not master in his own house,"
and- "Ike is running the coun-
try under a part time presidency."
Stevenson contends that the lead-
ership of the GOP has passed to
Vice President Nixon. The cen-
tral issue in the campaign, said
Stevenson, is "whether America
wants to stay, on dead center;
mired in complacency and cyn-
icism; or whether it wants once
more to move forward to meet
our human needs."
Stevenson, using his usual
catch phrases and slang quips.
said he once accused Mr. Eisen-
hower of stealing the Democrats'
farm program and added joking-
ly that he now owes the Presi-
dent an apology "because-he re-
turned the (farm) plan the day
after elections." Stevenson ^es-
cribed the Republicans as "Leap
Year Liberals" and charged the
Eisenhower administration ... of
"ingenious and ruthless infight-
ing" to undermine the "pro-
gress," (editor's quotes), of the
Roosevelt and Truman adminis-
trations.
AFL-CIO Endorsement
The Democratic ticket got an
expected boost when the general
board of the AFL-CIO endorsed
Stevenson and Kefauver and
were promised financial aid as
well as a drive to got out the
labor vote.
Through farm discontent in the
all important Midwtest, labor,
and the return of several Solid-
South states to the democratic-
column, the Democrats, hope to
win the November election.
Peace, Progress, and Prosper-
ity will play a large part in this
campaign as the GOP will cap*-
italize "on the record" of the
administration and the current
hi^h-employment, higher stan-
dard of living, and peace which
has been achieved since Ike took
office in 1953.
ifte Optimistic
President Eisenhower said he
believed the great mass of the
voters were on the Republican
side but it would take a mighty
effort to get them out to vote.
. Back of the Republican strate-
gy seemed to be this;"waj.*d work-
ers would concentrate on tradi-
tionally old guard Republicans.
The President would, through ra-
dio and TV speeches, work on the
independent and "discerning
Democrats." ...
It is believed that former New
York Governor Tom Dewey might
get the harrangfiing role for
that segment of voters whb re-
spond to the more emotional type
campaign as Vice President-Nix-
on was recast in the GOP con-
ention as closer to the states-
an type. &
Little man on campus
by Dick. Biblar
t
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Thresher Roundtable
What Rice Students
Think Of Suez Crisis
Definition of an Honest Poli-
_ . tician: One who when he's bought
•"-T. bought.
The following is the first of a series
of student, discissions sponsored by the
Thresher in an effort to survey student
opinion on. j important, issue?. Partici-
pants of the' first roundtable were Steve
William#, junior English major; Graham
Campbell., senior .physios, p*jpr; qill
Corrington, graduate English major;
and Harrison Wagner, junior history
major. Moderator wap Donna Paul Mar-
tin.
Do you think the Suez situation
could lead to war ?
Williams: It's possible but not
probable. If handled delicately the
situation won't result in war. .
Campbell: It would result in a
small scale war, but nothing
large. Russia and America are
keepingin check.
Corrington: There is no possi-
bility unless we have a Democrat-
ic administration. Wars have nev-
er occurred under a Republican
administration. They're willing to
sell prestige down the river to
keep the Arabs happy..
Wagner i War isn't probable but
if it starts it will be hard to keep
localized. It couid easily set off a
powderkeg of nationalist spirit.
Anthony Eden frequently com-
pares Nasser to Hitler—is there
any comparison?
Williams: No comparison what-
ever. Nasser has the. idea ef
throwing out the European na-
tions running Egypt. He wants a
home government and he's not
doing it for the sake of demagog-
ery.
Campbell: The comparison has
only limited validity. Nasser is
not an emationalist as Hitler was.
And he's only interested in
strengthening Egypt's position,
not in taking over the whole Near
East. Nasser wouldn't condone
the atrocities Hitler allowed eith-
er.
Corrington: I differ there, As a
social forcy' Nasser is almost
identical to Hitler. In 1933 Hitler
was trying to establish a national
state in the chaos of the Weimar
republic. Both were dependent on
the West and both were trying
to build a unified state. Nasser
won't stop with Egypt—he wants
an Arab League. Nasser is emo-
tional—but this isn't an insult.
Patrick Henry was also an emo-
tional nationalist. ql
Wagner: Yes, Nasser is defi-
nitely an emotionalist. His seizure
of the canal was precisely to keep
popularity. His book^Philosophy
of Revolution expressed the be-
lief that the Arabs are a unified
social power. There are definite
points of comparison such as the
Israeli situation.
Did Nasser have the right to
seize the canal?
Williams: Yes, the Suez is on
Egyptian soil. The majority of
people concerned are Egyptians.
Against his seizure is the fact
that he is stomping on the toes
of Britain and France. But for
Egypt he's doing the right thing.
He's getting rid of foreign prof-
iteers and getting himself a bar-
gaining point between the East
and West.
Campbell: No. The canal ought
to be open to all ships at all times
and Egypt is not strong enough
to maintain it. Only joint owner-
ship can guarantee its .remaining
opep.
Corrington: That depends on
what you mean by "right," Hav-
ing the right implies morals.
There are no morals in interna-
tional affairs. Power makes right.
Wagner: Concerning the tech-
nicalities Of international law,, I
don't know, just what provision.*
there might be for nationaliza-
tion. But Nasser has made at
least minor violations in failing
to compensate the owners and
taking over the canal before the
treaty ran out.
Should, the Suez be international-
ized?
Williams: No. It should defi-
nitely be kept open to all ships
at all times but rup by Egyp-
tians. Nasser's plan seems more
practical. •
Caippbeli: It should be run in
the manner that it was in the
past, a private company stocked
by nations throughout the world
who have an interest in it. Nasser
could tax the corporation but on-
ly if the canal is in the hands of
that sort-of group can we be as-
sured it will stay open.
Corrington: In Egypt's hands
Israeli ships are dosed out. The
international plan, though also
difficulty wartime, is better.
Wagner: Yes. The canal should
be kept, open and Egypt can't be
trusted.
What should the t,U.S.- foreign
policy be?, ,
Williams: One, kick out Foster.,
(Continued on Page 5)
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The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 44, No. 2, Ed. 1 Friday, September 21, 1956, newspaper, September 21, 1956; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth231032/m1/4/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.