All About "Salient"

Sir,—I am writing this letter in order that this paper may have a little more than the usual 2% of student opinion which its covers usually contain.

Possibly this 2% could be improved if the strip down the side of the cover were removed and the space used to present some student opinion.

Perhaps at the same time we could have some form of Editorial instead of the two articles which appear there and thus purport to be one.

At this stage I would like to say that the so-called questionnaire which you published a short while ago was not silly but useless. If your staff has deduced anything from it then they must have read more from between the lines than appeared on them.

I have come to think that the proportion of thinking students in this University has fallen from a very low level to almost zero. Once again the common-room is a place where cards can be played all and every day, and any intellect that may be present there is concerned primarily in the close examination of "card hands." Doesn't anyone realise that it is the third term?

As for Salient.. It's not even an organ of student opinion any longer. Not even of the Editor. In fact only two things seem to show that there is any opinion left in Salient staff.

These are "Today's Agnostic Text" and the "Bible Quotations." The latter has come from a rather insipid quotation to now be almost an answer to the "Agnostic Text" Both of these things at least reflect the opinions of their Editors.

As for the rest of the thing. With the exception of one or two articles which are only straight reporting or cribbing from other journals, the whole magazine would improve a "million' if we had the opinions of the writers rather than the unintelligible mixture of so-called facts which pass for articles in Salient at the present.

Well, here is a piece of student opinion which you might publish even if only for the one or two replies that it might bring. Yours, etc.,

Return To "Salient"

Sir,—Criticism of late has been levelled at Salient. The editor has been much maligned.

Might I suggest sir, that this is an 'example of scapegoat-finding or (psychologically) protection? How can the editor produce an organ of student opinion when there seemingly is not any opinion around? Surely Salient reflects the present "tone" of Victoria. Criticism of Salient is in effect criticism of oneself.

Perhaps however there is plenty of opinion around but those producing it do not consider there is to be any worth in writing their conclusions for Salient. Are they ashamed of their thinking? Do they fear being "branded?" Surely if someone throws out an opinion he is not committed to that point of view for the rest of his life? If he is not vegetating his opinions will be sprouting, blossoming, evolving, changing.

Or maybe the "opinionated" have lost faith in their contemporaries' ability to make an honest appraisal of new ideas.

Admittedly there is too much of the "my ideas are right for me therefore they are right for you" attitude rather than the "my ideas are right for me and it is possible they are right for you" attitude. I would not call the situation hopeless though, as others whose contributions to Salient are conspicuous by their absence, are implying.

These are two suggestions as to why Salient at the moment is only feebly fulfilling its function as an organ of student opinion. Perhaps readers will be sufficiently concerned to offer others.

The recent appearance of Ulysses was an attempt to shock students out of inertia rather than to criticise Salient.

"Salient" Revisited

Sir,—The level of awareness of students of this University resembles that of an intoxicated caterpillar. There is little interest or awareness of student politics, or questions of importance in present day world affairs. What are we who are being trained to participate to a considerable degree in our national life going to base our opinions on; how are we going to formulate opinions? Are we going to have opinions or rather are we going to drift with the stream? An achievement within the abilities of dead dogs.

I welcome the appearance of "Ulysses" as a stone cast in the stagnant pool of University thought, as an indication that not all the caterpillars are intoxicated. Surely however, the people behind this publication should rather be using Salient as a forum for the airing of ideas, controversies, pet grudges and prejudices. That is what Salient exists for isn't it? Further Salient has a far wider coverage of University affairs which, although it might well do with some redirection, does at least offer a more complete picture.

If the distressed protestations of McNeill Stone and Flude were utilised as contributions to Salient it would not only ensure a still further completeness in that paper's coverage, it would ensure that more people read it.

It is contributions of this kind which would make Salient more widely read, and a factor which I hope the 1961 Editor is aware of. A further thought for that gentleman is that Exec. not only expects criticism, it welcomes it (criticism as distinct from abuse). It is an indication of life. The absence of attention to this subject in Salient columns over the past year is an indication that it is time for student thought to be resurrected from its tomb of vegetation and get weaving!!

Teaching In Rhodesia

Sir,—I thought possibly that if any of your crowd who were about to graduate were interested in seeing a different part of the world and Africa in particular, they might be keen to know about teaching conditions in this country.

I'm a New Zealand graduate myself, from Victoria, and have spent nearly five years in Rhodesia now. Naturally it's not as good as New Zealand, but it comes a close second. I hate to say so but materially teaching conditions in this country are better than they are at home, as the brochure probably indicates. Teaching here is temporarily in a state of flux as the Ministry is trying to mould its philosophy to the newest and best ideas it can find and after all what would be better than New Zealand graduates to help it.

Actually this country is desperately short of good graduate teachers, particularly science and maths graduates and if any New Zealander wanted to come over, the Federal Government would possibly consider paying part or all of the fare.

The All Blacks when they were here told me that the cost of living in Rhodesia was just about on a par with that of New Zealand. The racial problem is certainly problematic but being a Police reservist I was on duty in the recent riots and it's pretty certain they're just a flash in the pan. For my money there's a big future in this country for both races.

You might also be interested to know that Dr. Rogers, formerly of Auckland University, is lecturing in Education at the University College here.

If any members of your association are interested in this matter they should write officially to The Personnel Officer, Federal Ministry of Education, P.O. Box 8024, Causeway, Salisbury, S. Rhodesia. They can also drop me a line any time.

(A brochure can be viewed in the Executive office).