Page 28 - 1964 VES Meteor

V. E. S. REVISITED
As the January 1962 issue of the Meteor found its inevitable way to the trash can, so went one of the best editorials and one of the few articles of real meaning and import-
ance which has appeared in this news- paper in many a year. This article entitled Beyond the Routine was writ- ten by Robert Berry and was a valiant but apparently fruitless effort to stir the imagination of some and really get this school moving. In this period of material improvement at V.E.S. it might be well to re-examine this article.
***
When one of us is asked what we did on Tuesday, most of us would reply we went to chapel, classes, and sports. Then if the same question were asked of us on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, the reply would be the same, the only exception being if someone went to the doctor in the morning or may- be to choir practice at night. On weekends the activities offered are staying here and "goofing off," stay- ing here and studying, or going to the "exciting" city of Lynchburg. For variety on the weekends one could make up some combination of the three or do one each weekend for three weeks and then start all over again.
The point is obvious: much is needed at V.E.S. beyond chapel, classes, and sports-and leaving school for a few hours. Why we find ourselves in this situation after so many years is hard to explain. How we have maintained our good name for so long with so little breadth to our school life is also hard to explain. How the school will fare in the future depends in large measure on the response of the present student body and faculty to the problem.
There are many things that can be done in the way of extra curricular
tiona! debating team and public speaking group with the people here today. There could also be more than one play a year, and some that aren't dominated by the faculty and wives. Perhaps German, French, and Spanish clubs co u Id be started, since practically every one here has taken at least one of these courses. A Lit- erary Guild could be started and would b e extremely successful, ac- cording to the reading level of some.
It is ridiculous that none of this is being done as there are on cam- pus toduy more faculty members than needed to fill the advisory end of each club. Each club would be of no cost to the school unless a de- bating team were to compete with another school. The seniors applying to colleges could especially benefit by this in two ways: one, they wouldn't have to blank the space on college applications which ask for
participation in extra-curricular activi- ties, and second, they would be better qualified to further pursue these activities in college.
At least 50/' of the student body 0
would probably ask "when do we have time for this?" The answer is fairly simple; some do and some don't. The people that have time are, generally speaking, the better students as they can get lessons done more quickly. This would be good for the clubs as they wouldn't be loaded with slower students and they could advance much more quickly. Every one could benefit from the final out- come of each club by watching and listening to the debates, the speeches, book reviews and plays.
Everyone here has time to sit (which is quite apparent) and watch something. Some have the motiva- tion necessary to do something, so it is up to us, the students, to ask for a little variety. Do something about it now. Don't sit until these words
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STUDENT OPINION
are forgotten and nothing gets done. Let's make this school stand up witr the best-there is no reason why :1 can't. The only handicap we have;, the apparent joy of most in doing nothing, but to you, the motivateo few, it is time to work.
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This article still has quite a bit to say to the V.E.S. student and it is well to look at the reasons why. First there is apathy among the students. No one really wants V.E.S. to change because the school as it is serves as a scapegoat for anything that doesn't goourownway.Itissoeasytosay that "I just wanted to get away and forget the school, just for one wee~­ end," or "it's the school's fault that life is so routine here. The only free time I have is on the weekend and since I have got to be in town at every possible moment, I just don't have time for anything." There are plenty of others, but there is no use listing them here. We all know them. The s e c o n d r e a s o n f o r t h e sma. amount of change is the pressure to conform. There is always the pres· sure to do the "right" thing, to be "cool" at the right time, to hold the accepted attitude toward the school, toward the masters, and toward cer· tain "undesirables" who for one rea- son or another aren't fully accepted. In short, individualism is almost quickly stamped out before it has a chance to spread.
The thing that we must do if we wish the school to begin moving forward again is ro recognize that these reasons don't just apply to the guy next door, but to ourselves. It may be easy to come to this realiza. tion but it is even easier to forget it. What each student must do is to consider what he does in the school in light of this •realization and move on from there. The task of expansion of life within the school is no easy one and if it is to be met, it will re· quire constant thought about where we now are and where we could be. Let us hope that within the next two years, Robert Berry's description and plea will no longer apply to V.E.S.
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VI 7-+473 Boonsboro Road
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