University of Virginia Library

Students in all departments of
all the schools of the University are
becoming aware of the fact that
they have, and should have,
opinions and a means of expressing
those opinions about the process of
their education. One of the most
beneficial means of communication
available to a particular group of
full time students, 492 strong, is
the Student Education Association.
Members of the faculty and administration are
present and willing to
discuss issues brought up by students
in these open meetings.

This group met Monday night to
acquaint Bachelor of Science candidates
with problems they will face
in the field of teaching and their
degree of readiness to cope with
these problems once they have
received that piece of paper. Latin
would be a very appropriate language
in which to write the degree
for most Education students since
Latin is a dead language. This seems
true for the majority of students as
a force of 14 did show up for this
publicized meeting. One wonders if
this demonstration of solidarity and
participation in a chosen profession
will last throughout the future
educator's life on both side of the
desk of academia. The word
'chosen' is also important; since, to
the writers' knowledge coercion was
not used to enlist students in the
Education School; nor were promises
of a free ride for three years
or so on the roads of an Academic
Garden of Eden.

Bear with us for now we intend
to be boring - we're going to write
about responsibility for a few lines.
The simple fact of the matter is
that you have a responsibility to
yourself to get the best out of your
education. In short, if you don't
think you're being educated say so!
But go one step of initiative beyond
- tell the faculty and administration
at SEA meetings what you
think can be done to improve this
ambiguous project called "Your
Education." This is your responsibility
to yourself, unless you reasoned
opinion doesn't mean much
to you. But if it doesn't don't feel
too bad because you're in the
majority of 478 students judging by
Monday night's turnout.

In summary, the writers are not
seeking the overthrow of administration
of faculty, but the working
together of a group with two
common interests: to educate and
to be educated. One without the
other is dogmatism which breeds
stagnation. A combination of the
two is pragmatism which at its best
incites learning - that which is the highest ability of any man.

The next meeting of SEA will be
on November 20th at 4:00 p.m.;
South Meeting Room, Newcomb
Hall. At this time Dean Cyphert
will be speaking about proposed
changes in the School of Education
and their relevance to the students.
Again your ideas, both pro and con,
will be welcomed.