Atlanta Daily World

Choose Wisely And Get Into Right Job, Dr. Brookes Says

BY WILLIAM GORDON Managing Editor, Atlanta Daily World Special tribute was paid a faculty member yesterday in a fashion seldom known to academic circles.

Dr. Stella Brewer Brookes, head of the department of English at Clark College, was honored by students for her more than thirty years of service at the institution as a teacher and advisor.

Greeted by an audience evident with feeling and gratitude, Dr. Brookes said:

ELECTRONIC SOCIETY This talk is addressed to you, my students, who live in a technological society—and a world which is rapidly moving into an electronic society.

The program was a special feature at Clark College, sponsored by the Literary Symposium, made up of students from the department of English.

Dr. Brookes was introduced by Attorney Julius Daugherty, member of the graduating class of 1948. Like many others he was at one time a student under Dr. Brookes.

THREE QUESTIONS The teacher and author asked her youthful audience three questions:

1. Am I ready?

2. Am I responsive?

3. Am I responsible?

Dr. Brookes said readiness involves a job—the right job. She added that one of the most tragic situations in the world today is the large number of people who are not in the right place.

CHOOSE WISELY The dynamic speaking English instructor warned her young audience that, "these are the years in which your careers are to be chosen, and at which time you should prepare yourselves for the job you intend to get." She advised them to choose wisely and to study what the job opportunities are today.

Dr. Brookes further stated that there is richness in diversity. She warned that all people are not fitted for the same types of jobs and that all men are not made in the same mold.

In spite of barriers of race, she said there are many opportunities for well trained Negro youth for whom the proper persons cannot be found.

The instructor told of deficiencies in the lower ranks of education today and stated there is a great need for people to be trained in various fields of interest. She told of the available scholarships for deserving young people willing to work hard and earn their way as they go. She likewise spoke of the means of obtaining assistance.

Regarding responsiveness, the instructor said: Responsiveness of the diverse languages, the differences in climatic conditions and the topography of land there are certain attributes which are recognizable wherever honesty truth kindness honor CAFETERIA LIVING We indulge in a sort of cafeteria living "some down the table but snatching a little education here, a little religion there, and so on," she added.

Let us be realistic. Life is hard and mean and cruel. Many of life's situations are difficult," she asserted.

"Teaching literature has enriched my life," she said. At this point she paused and explained passages from Shakespeare, Milton, Keats, Emerson, Whitman, Wordsworth, Sandburg and other great writers.

Asking if her audience was responsive, Dr. Brookes recalled a statement from Dr. Ralph Bunche, who said: "Democracy gives no free rides."

Dr. Brookes said integration in a society is a two-way proposition, "the more integrated one becomes the heavier will be his civic responsibilities."

Certificates of appreciation for service were presented to Dr. Brookes at the end of the program.