Viewpoint
The Battalion Wednesday
Texas A&M University March 11, 1981
Slouch
By Jim Earle
pofK
“It s an experiment that I'm conducting, but as a matter of
fact, I won't be here myself to see how it turns out."
Children, teachers
find school's roots
By PATRICIA McCORMACK
United Press International
Children at Margaret Sutton School in
Owensboro, Ky., looked into the school’s
“roots” — something any school kids can do
(with help from parents, grandparents and
blessings from the principal and teacher).
They learned a lot, besides having a lot of
fun. < *• * t <
In their search for the school’s roots, the
elementary school boys and girls ransacked
parents’ and grandparents’ attic trunks and
boxes stored in basements.
Out came memorabilia such as willow
switches, a dunce’s stool and hat, slates,
lunch pails, “McGuffey’s Reader” and
“Ray’s Arithmetic,” soap (used to wash oui\.
children’s mouths).
They even found old health books with
“pictures of sickly people from Kentucky.”
The highlight of the roots project was the
day boys, girls, and teachers dressed in old
clothing from a previous era and turned
back the hands of time.
Principal Vandalyn Hooks clanged an
old-fashioned school bell to open the day
out of the past.
The National Association of Elementary
School Principals features a report on the
project in its newsletter “The Communica
tor.” In the report, “Schools Have Roots,”
Principal Hooks of the Owensboro school,
reminds fellow principals:
— “Schools aren’t just brick and mortar,
or classrooms arranged along an open cor
ridor.
— “Schools have stories to tell. Stories of
when and how and why they were built, and
stories of the people who once worked in
them and gave the school its character and
tradition.”
The children learned first hand about
some of those stories when they went
through an old-fashioned school day. Prin
cipal Hooks said.
“Out came the McGuffey’s Readers.
Children recited in unison. They worked
math problems on the blackbord or on
slates (no wasting paper).
“They held spelling bees — and were
disciplined for incorrect answers. They
found that art supplies were nonexistent if
they hadn’t been brought from home. Some
were even punished by being made to sit on
the dunce’s stool.
“Children and teachers dressed in any
clothing from a previous era. The school
population sported everything from mini
skirts to bobby sox to high-button shoes.
“Even the cafeteria joined in the fun by
providing an old-fashioned ‘packed at
home’ lunch.
“Children were surprised to find their
sausage sandwich made on a homemade
biscuit and not a'slite of bakery bread. ”
The day concluded with an assembly.
Margaret Sutton, its first principal and
namesake of the school, the guest of honor,
shared throughts with the children.
“Other reminiscences about days gone
by came from Miss Sally Morton, 83 years
young,” Principal Hooks said.
“A group of former educators enter
tained with such songs as ‘Let Me Call You
Sweetheart’ and ‘Won’t You Come Home,
Bill Bailey?’
“There was no generation gap. The chil
dren have discovered that schools, too,
have roots.”
The children learned their school once
had a different name. When it was built in
1951 — on what was then the edge of the
city, it was named after George
Washington.
Later it was named to honor the first
principal — who served 22 years. She saw
the school grow through three additions to a
total of 800 students. It was renamed Mar
garet Sutton school when Miss Sutton re
tired.
Most of the pupils did not know about
Miss Sutton. Principal Hooks said Sutton
never entered the building after she retired
and the school was renamed in her honor.
All she needed was an invitation, it turns
out. Her chance came the day the school
kids ask her to come back and help cele
brate the school’s roots.
“Character Building” notes from the
same issue of the NAESP “Communicator”:
— Marvin Hrubes, LaPorte City, Iowa,
Elementary, gave out over 700 Star-Grams
in a school of 470 pupils last year. Some
were for academic achievement. But some
were for good behavior. “That way every
kid has a chance to be rewarded,” Hrubes
said.
— Norma Ragsdale of Wilson School,
Sanford, Fla., encourages her teachers to
“catch kids being good.” Teachers are also
expected to let parents know when their
children have done something special.
Warped
Not laughing at Brust column
By KENNETH LEPORI
In two months, when Final Review com
es around. I’ll proudly put on my senior
boots and wear them as a part of my uniform
for the first time, and I was not laughing
when I read the article written by Jane
Brust that appeared in the March 9 edition
of The Battalion. The article was in refer
ence to Texas Monthly’s January cover
story.
Miss Brust, though you are entitled to
your opinion, you have ignorantly and dis-
tastehilly insulted the part of Texas A&M
that I hold dearest to my heart, and here is
my reply.
To begin with, what is it that makes an
Aggie different from a regular college stu
dent? Is it that Texas A&M has special
desks? special classrooms? special side
walks? No, I don’t think so. Nor do I believe
that just because one is enrolled or was once
enrolled here at Texas A&M can one justly
classify himself as an Aggie. For most col
lege students in the United States attend
classes, go to athletic events, socialize with
fellow students, and do the million and one
other things that college students do. And,
Miss Brust, all universities attract some of
the brightest high school graduates. But
here at Texas A&M there is the famous
Reader’s
Forum
Aggie Corps that has been a part of being an
Aggie and has set Texas A&M apart from
other institutions of higher learning since
its doors opened on Wednesday, Octo
ber 4, 1876. Those “questionable things
that Corps members do” are all part of a
system that has been going on since this
institution was founded. The system
teaches individuals a lesson more valuable
than any lesson that can be obtained from
any professor or book (excluding the Bible).
If you don’t believe me ask an old Ag who
was in the Corps — I have. However, the
Corps is not perfect by any stretch of the
imagination, and, yes, there are “two-
percenters” in the Corps. But I don’t think
it is your place to insult or criticize it until
you have been a part of it.
And as for insulting the yell leader for
“squeezing” six inches below his privates, I
have a reply for that also. He is a lint
conscientious man who was a little moc
est(not stupid) about having his pict®
taken while “squeezing” properly.
And yes, I am well aware of the Corp!
population in relation to the civilianpoput
tion. Also, I am very sorry that you ares:
ashamed of the Aggie Corps that you feti
that an article featuring us “debased” yoe
all-time favorite university.
Miss Brust, in this letter, I amnotsayiii
civilian students are lower than “miseratii
worms,” nor am I saying that just beeaussf
one is not in the Corps that he can’t just!
classify himself (herself) as an Aggie! Anc
furthermore many of my best friends air
civilian students and fine Aggies. Yes, Mr
Reinert’s article left out some thingsjusti!
is the case with many articles, but it dii
show much of Texas A&M’s uniqueness
However, if he would have left out tk
Corps aspect in his article, I think we wouli
have regretfully found that Texas A&Misn’l
as different from other universities as w
say it is.
Kenneth LePori is a junior
Bandsman.
It’s your turn
Corps responds to Texas Monthly
Editor:
This letter is in response to “Being An
Aggie is no Joke; Or is it?,” by Al Reinert,
published in the January issue of Texas
Monthly.
Short of overstating the merits of your
article about Texas A&M, I’d like to say that
I and a myriad of others deem your story
worthy of a great deal of praise. The points
you’ve raised quite accurately sum up some
of what it means to be an Aggie, and for the
clarifying effect the article may have had
upon the numerous detractors of the “Aggie
experience,” we are grateful.
It is the points that you’ve failed to bring
up, however, that in our eyes, necessitate
this response. As it stands, your article
offers both the University and the Corps
good exposure, but only limited coverage.
In exposing the University, you’ve chosen
to mention only the Corps, and in exposing
the Corps, you’ve chosen to cover only the
punitive, structured facets of Corps life. In
so doing, you’ve left off any meaningful
mention of what the purpose of the Corps
is. The uninitiated reader, therefore, may
take your article’s approach too seriously,
and hence may have some serious questions
as to the logic behind an individual’s deci
sion to attend Texas A&M and be in the
Corps.
Notable among the aspects of Corps life
By Scott McCullar
you’ve left out are perhaps the most integral
components of the Corps education: Men
tion of the unexcelled leadership and man
agerial training, the strong sense of duty to
one’s self and to one’s country, and the self
discipline are all absent from your article.
The greatest shortcoming of the entire
article, however, is the author’s failure to
give any sincere recognition to the Corps’
greatest accomplishment: its ability to pro
vide and produce true friendship and
brotherhood. From day one, cadets are
taught to depend on each other, or pay the
price for the alternative. In this type of
environment, the cadets learn to interact,
respond to, and accept each other. The re
sulting coherence generates the finest
camaraderie attainable. Things don’t always
happen with the severity your photographs
indicate. If they did, no one would see any
purpose in joining, and there wouldn’t be
any Corps. People do join the Corps,
however — lots of them. Most of them do so
in order to receive some of the training
mentioned above. I know I did. I’ve re
ceived far more than I expected; thousand:
have before me, and thousands shall con
tinue to do so after me. Put simply, there:
more to the Corps than punishment d
discipline.
Everything mentioned in the article f
true, right down to the “squeeze play,
without a doubt, all the events in the photo
graphs look normal to all Aggies. Tk
aspects you do mention are indeed steps ii
the process of becoming a true Aggie. Thesi
things I wouldn’t begin to deny. The fa*
remains, however, that you’ve left somt
things out... some very important things:
feel your story is incomplete without souf
mention of them. Thus, I submit this re
sponse. I can do no more!
Buzz Steinf
Corps Public Relations Committei
Editor’s note: This letter has the endorse
ment of the Corps Public Relations Con
mittee.
J'/A 50 TIRED OF STUPY/NG,
TEST TOMORROW OR NOT,
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The Battalion
MEMBER
ISPS 045
Texas Press Association
. Southwest Journalism Congress
Editor Dillard Stone
Managing Editor Angelique Copeland
Asst. Managing Editor Todd Woodard
City Editor Debbie Nelson
Asst. City Editor Marcy Boyce
News Editors Venita McCellon,
Scot K. Meyer
Sports Editor Richard Oliver
Focus Editor Cathy Saathoff,
Asst. Focus Editor Susan Hopkins
Staff Writers Carolyn Barnes,
Jane G. Brust, Terry Duran, Bemie Fette,
Cindy Gee, Kathleen McElroy, Belinda McCoy,
Marjorie McLaughlin, Kathy O’Connell,
Ritchie Priddy, Rick Stolle
Cartoonist Scott McCullar
Photo Editor Greg Gammon
Photographers Chuck Chapman
Brian Tate
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