The Pony Express (Carthage, Tex.), Vol. 11, No. 20, Ed. 1 Tuesday, March 3, 1959 Page: 2 of 4
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THE PONY EXPRESS
Published weekly during the school year except holidays by
students of Panola College in Carthage, Texas. Editorial
comments and policies are those of the staff and do not
necessarily reflect the policies of the administration.
Executive editor.............................Olive Allen
Managing editor....................Sherry Ann Kindred
Business manager...........................Bob Coltrin
Radio commentator........................J. C. Kelly, Jr.
Staff . .. Bob Beauchamp, Sandra Browning, Sue Burns, Noble
Dickerson, Dennis Freeman, Benny Grant, Sandra Hancock,
Joe Ben LaGrone, and Mary Williams.
Sponsors.............................Mrs. Martha Smith
Mr. Cecil Robertson
Printed by the Watchman
No Federal Scholarships
Are Needed
by Joe Ben LaGrone
Today we hear cries from abroad and at home concerning
the critical status of world affairs and domestic problems.
Many of these cries are for reforms, others for peace, and
still others urge conservatism. In recent months we, the
American people, have begun to feel the effects of the more
recent controversial issues. Prior to the lanuching of Sputnik
many of us believed that this nation of the free was the most
powerful and best prepared nation in the world.
Sputnik and its “sisterniks” have done much to eliminate
this feeling of superiority and security. Not only has it instiga-
ted many severe and unethical attacks of criticism, but it has
also shaken the very foundation of our beliefs. In essence
our entire school program from kindergarten to graduate
school has been accused of inefficiency and laxness. As a re-
sult these accusations have brought forth plans for revising
our entire school program and increasing restrictions in the
high schools and colleges.
One of the most popular recommendations for improving
our school system and its end product, the educated student,
has been the awarding of federal scholarships to gifted stu-
dents. The whole basis for this argument is that the Russians
have surpassed us in the fields of guided missies and rocketry;
hence, supporters of this argument will tell you that our
schools need a shot in the arm which will increase the number
of American scientists and engineers.
However, let us examine this argument. First we might
ask: how is the term gifted to be construed? Some say that it
refers to those who display a strong knowledge of science and
mathematics. Yet, would not it be fair to say that it could
apply to the student who is strong in government, history,
economics, and English. After all, are we to be a nation of
educated mathematicians who know nothing of our heritage,
our traditions, our financial systems, or even more so, our
language?
Upon further examination of this issue, we look at the
term or phase federal scholarships: by its own implications
we can immediately assure ourselves that it will be another
program operated and financed by our national government.
Thus in the long run you and I and our fathers and mothers
would have to provide the resources to finance such a pro-
gram. Perhaps if we adopt this program we will be justified
in complaining about high taxes because such action on the
part of our national government will certainly bring new and
higher taxes. Some will tell you that the United States must
eventually award scholarships because it means self-preser-
vation for the people of the United States. From this argument
I can only assume that those who advocate such action like-
wise advocate bankruptcy for this country. I say this because,
while they support a new program of federal spending, they
fail to remind you of the two hundred and eighty billion
dollars we now owe, and they also ignore the fact that we are
now faced with a proposed budget of seventy-six billion dol-
lars which is the highest peace-time budget on record.
Would it not be logical to assume then that if we incur-
red new debts that we would further endanger the economical
status of this nation; hence, if our economy topples, then
there will be no resources to promote any kind of war effort.
In support of this argument I site the case of the Southern
Confederacy which had spirited men and splendid officers;
yet their worthless dollars resulted in military defeat.
Some argue that we have fallen behind in the field of
new technological developments simply because a large per-
YOUn FAVORITE
COLOR HAS
DEFIMTE MEANING
Have you ever thought about
the significance of the colors you
wear each day? Every color has
a specific meaning. It may even go
with your personality.
In the fifteenth and sixteenth
centuries, people chose the color of
their garments by their symbolic
meanings. The meanings have been
carried down through the years.
Some of the favorite colors which
have specific meanings are blue,
which denotes spiritual truth or
faithfulness; brown, which means
creative abundance; green, which
means new life or hope; purple,
which denotes royalty; flame red,
which stands for pure love; white,
which means purity and peace;
and violet, which means truth.
Besides the symbolic meanings
of colors, they also describe emo-
tions. Pink affects us as luscious;
green, as fresh; red, as daring;
and dark blue or gray, as gloomy.
Give this a thought when you
choose your colors and see if they
actually go with your personality
and emotions.
CHEERLEADER
CARTHAGE NATIVE
Ma
g<
Martha Knight was born in Cat
thage, Texas, in 1939, and has rt
sided there all her life.
In high school Martha was activ
in several activities which are
follows: band, where she wa|
majorette three years and druif*a
major one year, member of thK°
CHS annual staff, and member or
the school paper staff. P°
During the last three years
her high school career, Marth|eI
was elected to attend Blue Bonfej
net Girls State at Austin, outstan(|m,
ing senior, and beauty.
She prefers Elizabeth'Taylor anlars
Paul Newman to other screen stars! tl
Her favorite movie and song if tl
Love is a Many Splendored ThingfFr
Martha’s favorite color is bluepnt;
food is lemon icebox pie, pet peevl1011
is people who act like they arf‘S
something they are not. itei
Martha attended S.F.A. durin|0^
the summer of 1958. At Panola!
a
on<
en
this year, she is a cheerleader.
er,
Future plans are to attend East p.
Texas State Teachers College aihoi
Commerce. |e
centage of our better students of high mental ability are n<§
attending college because of financial reasons. Their answe£
to this is to give those students federal scholarships; in mjjr
opinion this action would not be justified because I believe J
that a student who really desires a college education will find
a way to obtain it. By this, I simply mean that there are man)A
ways to finance a college education other than by federal^
scholarships. f
I call to your attention these things: many willing andC
determined students can, and have, worked their way through/
college. Secondly, many colleges have loan plans which enable^
students to secure funds for educational purposes; thirdly, a
a student can swallow a certain degree of his self-pride and_
accept aid from his parents, friends, or other relatives. An]
other popular and sensible means of getting educational funds
is procuring a loan from a commercial bank. Now I ask you:
do not these methods of financing a college education seem
more reasonable and desirable than a program of federal aid
to college students which would burden us all with new taxes’!
From this point let us turn our attention to the student;
who receives federal aid. In my opinion, any one who accepts!
federal aid of this nature is indirectly obligating himself to
the government for future service; likewise, it is also my
belief that the student who finances his own education will-
feel the true meaning of his training and become more self-
reliant and self-determined.
If the federal government should give scholarships to=
gifted students, would it not be another step toward more
centralized authority which boils down to socialism or com-
munism or some of the other “ism’s?” I personally do not think
that we in a democracy can successfully pattern our education-
al program after the educational program of a communistic
nation. Although many point out the achievements of the
Russians under such a system they fail to point out the achieve-i
ments we have made under a system of voluntary study and
noncompulsory college attendance.
Compare your level of living with that of a person who
lives behind the Iron Curtain. I have made such a comparison,
and I firmly believe that I have a higher economic, social, and
political standard than do they. In addition to this I can wor-
ship as I see fit. As a result of these findings I am led to be-
lieve that our many advancements and achievements have
come as the result of the one thing which is the foundation
of our American way of life: freedom of choice and the right
to compete with one another. Certainly free choice of educa-
tion and the right to seek knowledge is one of our most
sacred trusts.
I offer, consequently, these points. We do not need
federal scholarships for college students because of the in-
crease in taxes it would bring, because of its socialistic nature,
and because such a program would tend to destroy incentive
and initiative on the part of the individual. Even more so I
point to the present level of living we now enjoy which has
been gained under a program of voluntary college attendance
and without the awarding of federal scholarships.
-
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Allen, Olive. The Pony Express (Carthage, Tex.), Vol. 11, No. 20, Ed. 1 Tuesday, March 3, 1959, newspaper, March 3, 1959; Carthage, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth507880/m1/2/?q=%22~1~1%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Panola College.