The Rimrock Echo (Billings, Mont.) 1930-1943, February 09, 1940, Image 2

Page Two THE RIMROCK ECHO Friday, February 9, 1940 THE RIMROCK ECHO Published by EASTERN MONTANA STATE NORMAL SCHOOL at Billings, Montana RIMROCK ECHO COMMITTEE—ADVANCED COMPOSITION CLASS Martha Calvert, June Chitwood, Maxie Emmett, Shirley Fuller, Beulah McGhee, Bob Polston, Jim Walpole, Margaret Welton, Dale West, DeLois Wiley, Mary Worth. Adviser Mary J. Meek EDITORIALS A Student Tribute The occasion of Dr. McMullen's recent birthday makes timely a student tribute to his personality and character. Without surrendering that dignity essential in his posi- tion, Dr. \Mac\ displays more the attitude of a benevolent dad than the gravity peculiar to college presidents. It is probable that the genial manner with which he annually receives first year students is a delightful shock to them. After leaving the pleasant publicity of a small town high school for larger institutions, freshmen anticipate a conse- quent loss of individuality. However, when Dr. McMullen greets them by name and evinces personal interest, they at once feel themselves an integral part of his school. The youthful informality that marks his conducting of group singing and similar activities creates the atmosphere of a challenging game rather than the austerity of the classroom. His smashing serve in tennis reveals a dexterity equal to that of men decades his junior. Though this birthday in traditional fashion adds another year to the age of our president, his rare physical and mental vitality makes him 65 years young and makes general the wish that he may continue for a long time as president of E. M. S. N. S. Value of Appearance in Teaching This Eastern Montana State Normal School gives excel- lent training for teaching with its full course of student teaching, child psychology, and varied studies. When a teacher goes out to her first rural school she is well- equipped mentally to teach. But often one wonders if some of these prospective teachers in our school are not seriously handicapped by carelessness in their appearance. Would it not be valuable and interesting to have in this school informal group discussions about the ways in which an individual may become more attractive? The discus- sions could emphasize simplicity and neatness in dress. --Little children do not notice-their teacher's homely fea- tures if her hair is shining, her teeth white, her make-up natural, and her dress simple. We all have our little habits of dress which are not suitable, certain mannerisms which are not attractive, and we may never have learned how to economize on time and money in taking care of our clothing. By eliminating these bad habits and putting real thought on the problem of improvement in her appearance a teach- er may reap rich reward in the appreciation of her pupils. You have almost an even chance to be killed whether you ride boldly forth on the highway or play mamma's boy and stay right at home, according to figures for 1939, compiled by U. S. Safety Council. Thirty-two thousand six hundred were killed because of motor accidents and 32,000 by accidents occurring in the home. The Pep Band Just in case some of you have failed to attend the bas- ketball games, this will be your notification that the East- ern Montana State Normal School really has a pep band that is a pep band in more than name only. At present the personnel of the band is: Ellen Johanson, Patsy Cox, De- Lois Wiley, Nancy Lundberg, Ruth Pleissner, Donald Nave, Cecil Nave, Lloyd Gering, Orland Jordahl, William Vitt and James Watson. The band makes up in pep what it lacks in numbers and instrumentation. Now that we have a start there seems to be no reason why the band can not continue to grow and eventually be one of the organizations of which the school may well be proud. There is probably a great deal of uncovered talent still remaining in our school. Here is your opportunity, you musicians, to do a great service for your school by assisting in the band. A few good snappy school numbers by an enthusiastic band might furnish the additional inspiration for the team to go out and get those points that spell the difference between defeat and victory. Children Will Play For those who may not know, the student bulletin board is for the purpose of contact between students and between teachers and students. It is not a place for wise cracks. For the benefit of those who are bubbling over with humor, perhaps another bulletin board can be provided. Never let it be said that E. M. S. N. S. has dampened the ardor of any blossoming humorist. Grades Not Affected By Work on NYA The percentage of college students working for partial or full support has grown greatly in colleges during the last four years because of NYA support. Along with this growth has come the assumption that the work- ing student has an excuse for poorer scholarship. His health is believed to be impaired because of financial worries, loss of sleep, and Made- quate diet, and these presumably cause a poor scholastic performance. To answer the question of whether working affects scholarship, the Ohio State university in 1967 conducted a study of workers and non-workers. A worker and a non-worker of the same IQ, scholarship in high school, age, nationality and general health were paired. The only factor allowed to vary was the employment one. There were 123 matched pairs chos- en, and the employment of the workers ranged from loading trucks to library jobs. Two-thirds of these workers averaged from 15 to 25 hours per week. The parents of the non-workers were largely profes- sional and semi-professional people, while the workers came in general from homes where the earnings were on a lower level. In the working group more time was found to have elapsed between leaving high school and entering college. The study showed that workers quit school at the same rate as that of the average college student, while the non-workers stay in school above the average rate. At the end of two years, only 30 pairs, or 24%, were still in school. The conclusion reached after com- paring grades of the matched group and then with the entire class was that there is so slight a difference as to be negligible. Therefore, em- ployment is a poor excuse for low grades. There is also evidence that the number of hours of work has little to do with scholarship. During the time of the study, 31 workers were dismissed for poor scholarship while 32 non-workers were dismissed for the same reason. Some re-admissions were granted but in no case did a student, worker or non-worker, make good after re- admission. On the basis of this study made by Ohio State university, it is found that if a student has the intelligence he can work 15 or 40 hours a week without fear of an unsatisfactory scholastic record. If a student does not have this mental capacity, he will not make good grades even if not working. No effort was made to find out to what extent extra-curricular activi- ties were curtailed, or what part recreation played, or how health was affected. New Junior College Opens at Miles City Last September there was opened in Miles City a flourishing institu- tion of higher learning called Custer County Junior college. At present there are 132 students, 46 per cent men and 54 per cent women, coming mostly from Custer county, thougn a few are registered from other states. On the teaching staff are three full time and 11 part time teachers, who present two types of curricula: the pre-professional courses, which are transferable after two years to four-year colleges; and the semi- professional courses taken by stu- dents who do not intend to secure more than two years of college work. In January our Yellowjackets played the Junior college quint in two games, and four members of their school participated in a debate discussion at the Poly with the same number of E. M. S. N. S. representa- tives and eight Poly students com- pleting the group. Regarding the friendly relations between Custer County Junior col- lege and our school, G. H. Gloege, dean of the school, wrote to our Echo reporter: \We are glad that Eastern Mon- tana Normal is so close to us and that it is possible for us to engage in interscholastic activities with them. We hope that the inter-school activ- ities will increase and that a very friendly feeling may exist between the two institutions.\ The Custer County college is the first to be established in the state under the educational act passed by the 1939 legislature, permitting such two-year schools to be established in any school district under certain restrictions. WINTER TERM SHOWS GAIN According to figures on file in Mr. Stuber's office, the enrollment for winter quarter, 1940, has reached a total of 316. This shows an in- crease of 45 students over the total for winter quarter, 1939. New students this quarter include Bill Arnott of Billings, Margaret Croake of Miles City, Carl Grill of Joliet, Betty Holmes of Forsyth, Bessie Hauser of Billings, Jewel Samuelson of Custer, Fay Troxel of Billings, Barbara Yerian of Sheri- dan, Wyo., and Hazel Jarden of Jordan. Doesn't the etiquette of the flag require that it be taken down at sunset? Yet our new flag floats in the darkness, and sometimes the coming of daylight reveals it hang- ing dejectedly — frozen stiff, and unable to float in the breeze. Honor Roll Lists 42; Augusta Sveen Leads Forty-two students received the necessary 33 grade points to put them on the honor roll for the fall quarter. Augusta Sveen of Turner had the highest ranking of the 42 students with an average of 2.44 grade points on 17 credits and a total of 41.5 points. Bob McGuire of Stanford was next with a 2.43 aver- age of 16.5 credits and a total of 40 grade points. Vivian hall of Billings was third with an average of 2.41 on 17 credits for 41 grade points. Seven men and 35 women are named on the honor roll. In addition to the three highest they are: Mil- dred Andrews, Gladys Byall, Martha Calvert, Clyde Davis, Bob Deckert, Ada Duell, Jane Fosgate, Marjorie McDonald, Margaret Mills , Maxine Ruppel, all of Billings; 1Viarcia Beyer of Whitetail; Jean Burkley of Broad- view; June Chitwood of Absarokee; Lillian Eldridge of Camas; Maxie Emmett of Fromberg; Joyce Epper- son and Ray Humiston of Edgar; Shirley Fuller of Libby; Elizabeth Hanson of Turner; Fay Hawks of Reed Point; Sigfrid Helgeland of Pryor; Estella Holland of Denton; Selma Lee and Emery Ostby of Froid; Clara Leis of Laurel; Virginia Markovich of Belfry; Dorothy Neal of Livingston; Ruth Pleissner of Baker; Ruth Nelson of Forsyth; Kathryn Peterson of Absarokee; Nellie Reukauf of Terry; Leona Rine of Harlowton; Borghilde Rolseth of Libby; Jean Rushton of Butte; Ale- tha Saunders of Joliet; Gladys Sten- berg of Big Timber. Peggy Jean Bent of Billings made an A average but was not placed on the honor list because of an incom- plete due to illness. Back Stage Experiences With the Russian Ballet The Normal School was well rep- resented both in the audience and on the stage at the recent Russian ballet. Martin Tuckervitch, Dwight Masonvitch, and Jack Lewisky were members of the troupe for an eve- ning and they are still a Elite be- wildered. The call had gone out for three handsome men to act as supers and our three were, of course, chosen. Going boldly backstage they ran smack into the entire troupe prac- ticing. Leonide Massine, the maestro, was spouting a prodigious now of Russian to the dancers, so absorbed with his work that he failed to no- tice his latest members. The small backstage of the Fox was jammed with 65 dancers, a symphony or- chestra, property men, maids, stage hands, directors, and three Normal School students. All but three of these (guess who) were busily en- gaged in dancing, playing, blinding, and listening to Russian exhorta- tions. Suddenly Massine strode up to a woman dancer and snatched a small box of chocolates from her and seemed very annoyed with her for eating them. Nervously, Masonvitch jerked out his chewing gum and stuck it behind his ear just before Massine saw the trio and said some- thing to them in Russian. Lewisky smiled, nodded affirmatively, and stood there hopefully. More Russian. More nods. More Russian in a sudden crescendo and three apprehensive youths galvan- ized into action as a helpful dancer pointed at a table and gestured off- stage. After the boys had moved the table, the leader gave them their instructions in English, and the re- hearsal went on in a friendly fashion. The poses of the dancers on and off the stage seemed very different. While in their numbers their faces were drawn tight, showing little or no emotion, while offstage they seemed relaxed and at ease. To attain the mask-like cast of the fea- tures the dancers held their nostrils taut, their eyelids drawn down and their face-muscles tensed. To aid in the mask-like appearance the dancers waxed out their own eyebrows and painted in new ones about a quarter of an inch higher, rounding them off with a swirl over the temples. About three-fourths of the dressing time was spent in getting the make-up perfect. Win a prize in the picture contest! Send in snapshots. Do We Need a Vigilante Committee? What is to be done with that small group of rowdy stu- dents who are causing privileges to be taken away from the rest of us? Since Christmas vacation the small room across from the library has been locked, causing many protests of in- dignation from students who have used it to good advan- tage. This room was intended as a discussion room for students working on projects in social sciences. The majority of our students have appreciated this priv- ilege and have made good use of it. But bes;ause oi one tew noisy students it was necessary to close this room, and the punishment falls, not on these offenders who only miss it as a visiting room, but on those who need the use of tne typewriter and the extra study facilities which they have previously enjoyed. 'There is also the matter of the nickelodeon, placed in the basement for the enjoyment of the students. But as usual a few students have to spoil the fun for the many. The \smart alecks\ have tried to get something for noth- ing, using phony nickels and hitting the machine to pro- duce the music. This has damaged the nickelodeon so that it has been out of commission for several different periods. The sting of public disapproval is the only effective weapon which can be used on these students. An organ- ized front can curb the activities of this rowdy minority. Remember, there are other privileges now taken for grant- ed that can be taken away if these few students are not repressed. Why allow these few lawless ones to curtail the privi- leges of all? The many students who have acquired an adult view of life should be able to squelch this minority by some means of organization. Why worry if the minority does call sensible students \drips\? Perhaps the students should inaugurate a vigilante movement and so protect their own interests.