English Preparation Called Inadequate
KU students apparently feel their high school English and language training is inadequate.
The opinions followed a statement here by Everett Hughes, professor of sociology at the University of Chicago, that most high schools are "no good" because of poor language training.
Khrushchev OK's Ministers' Talk
By United Press International
Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev today accepted the West's invitation to a foreign ministers' conference on Germany May 11. But he urged full scale talks by all World War II allies to write a final peace treaty with Germany.
The Russian leader signified acceptance even before the invitation had been received officially. The Western powers still are drafting a new round of diplomatic notes to Moscow.
The notes were expected to name Geneva as the site for a foreign ministers gathering.
The Soviet Premier put main emphasis, however, on a plea for a final peace treaty with East and West Germany and the ending of the occupation of West Berlin by British, French and United States troops.
In Ottawa, Canada, Eritish Prime Minister Harold Macmillan rejected Khrushchev's call for a conference of all World War II belligerents to settle East-West differences.
Macmillan told newsmen a multination conference such as proposed by Khrushchev was "a difficult way to work." He said records showed few accomplishments at conferences of such size.
Weather
Partly cloudy to cloudy tonight and Friday with rain changing to snow northwest Friday. Scattered showers elsewhere over state by late Friday. Strong southerly winds 25 to 35 miles per hour in east late today. Strong northerly winds developing in west Friday. Colder northwest this afternoon and over most of state Friday.
In a Daily Kansan interview eight students explained why they thought their high school background did or did not prepare them for college work.
Judy Leonard, Prairie Village junior, was one of those who complained about the English curriculum.
"We didn't have any writing a all in high school," Miss Leonard said.
Anita Espland, Minneola junior said her English background wa inadequate for college work.
One student indicated that he conto a large high school was beneficia in preparing tor college.
"Fortunately, I went to a large high school, and a very good one I believe that I was prepared for college except for English. We didn't have enough theme work and grammar."
"I suggest that starting in the freshman year in high school, grammar and punctuation should be emphasized. We need to do more written work in class," said Merikas Boucher, Kansas City, Mo., freshman.
Molly Hoover, Manhattan freshman, said that living in a college town was an advantage.
"I think our high school realized the necessity for entering K-State and other colleges. A large percentage of my class went to college. I thought we needed a wider range in languages. That has been remedied partly as other languages have been added to the present curriculum," she said.
"In high school we wrote themes, but the topics were a lot more simple than they are here," she said.
Julia Holcomb, Topeka freshman, said her high school training was good except in English.
Nick Classen, El Paso, Tex., senior, said that high schools should require more English themes and be more strict in grading the students on their work.
Daily hansan
6th Year, No.111
LAWRENCE, KANSAS
Thursday, March 19. 1959
Hughes Says Isolation Forms College Culture
A Chicago sociology professor old a KU audience yesterday that students form their own culture as a result of partial isolation.
Everett C. Hughes, professor of sociology at the University of Chicago, spoke at the Judge Nelson Timothy Stephens Lectureship of the School of Law.
The final lecture of the series will be given at 4 p.m. tomorrow in Fraser Theater. He will speak on "Quality and Equality: American Enterprises and Experiments in Education."
Dr. Hughes spoke in the third of a series of speeches he is giving on the campus this week.
"Students form their own culture. They pass the word of what is happening from class-to-class," he said.
"This student culture is especially
U.S. Nuclear Tests Set Off 300 Miles High
The Pentagon said details of the military aspects would not be disclosed. But the tests may have been related to efforts to develop an effective defense against intercontinental ballistic missiles.
WASHINGTON —(UPI)—The United States fired three nuclear devices last September "at a very high altitude"—reported to have been 300 miles-in highly secret tests of vast military significance.
A brief announcement said the experiments were made for two reasons: One, to test scientific theories about the earth's magnetic field and two, to test high altitude effects of "military interest."
America's Explorer IV satellite collected data from the shots, the statement said. It added that this information would be released
The Defense Department announced today that the tests were conducted over the South Atlantic "outside the earth's atmosphere." Indications were they may have gone undetected by Russia.
through normal scientific channels after being "properly reduced and studied."
The Defense Department said the data on the earth's magnetic field supplemented information provided earlier on the radiation band around the earth by the Explorer satellites.
Scientists believe that an "atomic ray" defense against enemy ICBM's can be developed by exploding H-bombs in space to set off streams of high-speed neutrons.
The New York Times said the first explosion drew a thin curtain of radiation around the earth, enveloping almost the entire inhabited portion, within less than an hour. It said two other atom bombs were exploded to insure success and all three were successful to varrowing degrees.
Such neutrons, released in the path of an oncoming missile, might kick off a chain reaction in the weapon's warhead and cause it to explode harmlessly far from its target, they said.
observable after an instructor has given his students a large reading assignment. You can see them gather in the hallway after class deciding what parts of the assignment to study, and what not to study."
He said that the faculty and institutional situation do not create a student culture, but students create it themselves as a reaction to the faculty and institution.
"Students want to see something clearly and definite. It's like a workflow problem in a factory. The student tries to examine the most cases in the limited time he has," he said.
Dr. Hughes named three principles upon which students make their decisions on what is to be studied. They are:
1. What will be asked on the tests,
1. What will be asked on the tests.
2. What will be of the most use on the tests.
3. Security of knowledge.
"However, the faculty does not want to get rid of these collective student cultures. Instead, it must learn to make them more effective and use them wisely."
Dr. Hughes said that there are many subcultures in today's life.
"If people have common problems, their culture is made. It may be a couple of dope addicts or a group of students with the same interests."
He said that cultures bring on a new language, and to understand different cultures, one must understand the languages.
"Old words take on new meanings and new words are created with special meanings," he said.
Quoting from Edward T. Hall, noted anthropologist, Dr. Hughes said:
"Man is a culture-producing animal. Man puts meaning into things other people do."
Bring Back the Bikes Boys, Cars Can Cost Cash
Economics, not regulation, is the most likely cause for the future demise of automobiles on campus.
Keith Lawton, administrative assistant to the chancellor, told the Faculty Forum yesterday:
"Students can afford cars now,but they might be unable to in the future."
He cited the increasing cost of operation as a probable factor in ending traffic congestion on campus.
But he named methods which the administration could use to cut down traffic jams.
"We could set up a system of screening cars along Jayhawk Boulevard. We would then know which cars are on the hill unnecessarily," he said.
But "for a university community of ten thousand, we have a phenomenal safety record," he said. "I can recall only a few accidents in the past ten years."
The present problem, Mr. Lawton said, is the cars which shuttle students between the campus and their living areas.
He said the University does not expect to build any more parking lots on the campus itself.
"Zone X has 50 places to fill, and Zone O nearly a thousand," he said.
"Everyone who needs a parking permit is able to get one. Requests for parking permits for those with physical defects are approved by Dr. Ralph Canuteson, director of Watkins Hospital.
In regard to abolishing cars from campus, Mr. Lawton said the only schools where such action had been successful were those where the rule had been in effect for many years. He said any action to ban automobiles would have to be taken by the students.
"We can't have unlimited parking on a small piece of ground. As the University population grows, there will be less parking space available."
Candidates for campus extinction?
Several students agreed that operating a car at the University is expensive business.
A Daily Kansan poll found the average car expense per month, excluding the major expenses of insurance, licensing and taxes, to be around $15.
Gerald Chmidling, Leavenworth junior, said he estimated his 1954 Ford cost him around $10 a month.
"I think the taxes, insurance and license cost me around $125 a year. Of course, then you must add the parking tickets." he said.
Gordon Leonard, Lyons sophomore, said:
"I don't drive a whole lot, but my 1950 Buick costs me around $10 a month to operate."
Leonard said his parents help out on the car expense.
Ava Gager, Joplin, Mo., sophomore, said her parents pay her transportation bills.
"I pay my own expenses here at the University, and my parents pay for my car costs," she said.
She drives a 1954 Chevrolet.
Larry Hazelrigg, Rockport, Mo., senior, said his 1956 Chevrolet costs a little more than the average.
"I drive home about twice a month, so I imagine it costs me around $15 a month for transportation. I do very little driving here at school."
Hazelrigg said his parents help out on the car expense, but lie pays for most of it himself.
Janet Juneau, Topeka junior, said:
"I don't know just what my car costs me, but it's quite expensive."
Then going into higher mathematics, she figured her monthly bill at about $17.
"Fortunately, my folks help pay for my 1951 Ford."