In the late March 1971 issue of the SOUTHERNER the staff requested that
the administration point over the present mural In the cafeteria.
Following its publication, Mr. Derthick responded quickly by allowing the student body to vote on the issue. The SOUTHERNER staff is gratified by the opportunity given by the principal to the students to voice their opinions on the issue. However, previous to the voting, Mr. Derthick did comment on the sentimental and artistic value of the mural, possibly influencing some students' voting, although this may have been unintentional.
Only 39% of the student body voting called for the removal of the mural and only 31% of the voting teachers were of that some opinion. The SOUTHERNER staff questions the right of the teachers to vote on this. Teachers eat in a separate lunchroom, so the issue should not concern them. However, this does not change the outcome of the vote.
Recent Changes Affect School In Many Widely Varied Ways
Several changes have occurred at Grady in the past several weeks.
At the end of the second quarter report cards were circulated by a different
method. Much forgery of grades had occurred in the past when students circulated
their own cards, so this quarter a new procedure was tried. Grades were
put on white cards by subject teachers and sent to the students' homeroom
teachers who put them on the report cards.
Report cards were then placed in envelopes and sent to the students' parents. It is hoped that this method will eliminate dishonesty on report cards. According to Principal Roger H. Derthick, this method was successful.
In response to a SOUTHERNER editorial in the previous edition concerning the mural in the cafeteria Mr. Derthick held a student referendum to determine what to do about it. He asked the student body and faculty if they wished for the mural to be removed. Both students and faculty voted for it to remain intact. A plan has been suggested, however, that would entail covering the mural with paper and letting various clubs take turns decorating it.
Another, much more widespread change is the stringent enforcement of hall rules and skippers' lists.
This stricter enforcement of rules came as a result of recommendations in made by the Student-Faculty Board. They urged teachers to turn in skippers with greater care. Mr. Derthick instituted a new system for dealing with skippers, whereby anyone caught skipping must bring his parents to talk with the teacher whose class he had skipped.
Stricter enforcement of hall pass rules now makes it necessary for any student who wishes to enter the library, clinic, or office to have a hall pass signed by a teacher. Any student leaving class must also have a signed hall pass with him. Another suggestion which may be put into effect in the near future is the establishment of a demerit system.
Alan Miller Becomes Victim Of Conformist's Ideals
By Barbara Strong
One learns information by three ways, through reading, experience, and listening. All of these means are combined in the classroom by teachers to create the most informative method they can employ to instruct their students. This is called by some, a teacher's style of teaching. Like everything today, no two styles are alike.
This past quarter I was fortunate enough to experience two styles of English teaching; that of Mr. Michael Moate, and Mr. Alan Miller, his student teacher from Emory University. Although I believe Mr. Moate is an excellent instructor, Mr. Miller was most refreshing. They both have taught me about English this year, but in two different ways.
Mr. Miller wanted our class to search for knowledge ourselves, and he gave us this opportunity by supplying us with limited information during class discussions which we were to implement. Also, we related the novels and plays we have studied this year to our own personal lives, giving its a better insight into literature and ourselves. His tests were related to the work we had studied. During class we were to compose our own thoughts on how we related to the work causing us to probe the work further then merely obtaining an understanding of plot. I discovered that by using this type of testing, I had learned a more thought provoking manner.
The style of teaching Mr. Miller employed during his practice teaching was not like that of the majority of educators today. But this does not mean it was not effective. No matter how conforming an individual is, his conformity doesn't necessarily produce excellence in any field. Inversely, a nonconformist can achieve excellence although lie may be in the minority, Needless to say, Mr. Miller's style of nonconformity netted him a somewhat lower grade in his practice teaching that I felt he deserved.
A "C" on grading standards means average work. This grade prevents him from teaching in some school systems. One man (his supervisor) had limited his future. I have known many teachers who were not nearly as well prepared as Mr. Miller and a few that were better due to experience. Given the chance, I believe Mr. Miller could be compared will these "great teachers".
Just as Socrates was forced to drink hemlock because he taught his pupils to think, Mr. Alan Miller may be forced to pursue another career.