Winston Salem State University - Ram Yearbook (Winston Salem, NC)

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ACHIEVEME T EDUCATIO DR. S. G. ATKINS Tlrzsidcul rf Illusion-Sakm CJ Tmrlrrrs College From an Article by Thos. L. Dabney, Staff Correspondent, in the Norfolk Journal and Guide of October 12, 1929. ORIAIVI - FOUN There are few men in all the world that merit a special article in a newspaper or magazine. Who a man is as well as what he does will determine his imprint upon his peers and posterity alike. It was the inimitable critic and writer, Frank Harris, who popularized the habit in modern supposedly great leaders. In his criticisms the breadth and depth or the culture of men weighed more heavily than so many jobs put over to their credit. This being a suitable criterion, the writer is applying the same yard stick in part to Dr. S. G. Atkins, president and founder of the Winston-Salem Teachers College. The writer has had the pleasure of meeting a number of Negro educators in the South and writers and business men from all sections of the country. In some cases the time spent in conversation with certain of these leaders ap- pears as so much time wasted in an intellect- ual void. And yet there are many Negro educators, writers, business men, and leaders whose lives are inspiring and stimulating. Dr. Atkins belongs to this group. Careful Student: Veteran Educator After all it is not what Dr. Atkins has done, as important as this is, but the man himself that impresses his admirers. 'He is a careful student of the race problem as well as a veter- an educator. His chief interest is in ideas and principles rather than things.- The large plant at his college is but the crystallization of his best thought in the field of education. And tho the ideal is high, the school is rapidly approaching it. Dr. Atkins is a graduate of the St. August- ine Normal and Collegiate Institute and a life long student of social and educational prob- lems. His long years of service in education have added immensely to his formal training in the class room as a student. His years of teaching at Livingstone College, Salisbury, North Carolina, as principal of the Grade School in Winston-Salem, and as secretary of education for the A. M. E. Zion Church were rich with experience. Under Dr. Atkins' direction and leadership what was formerly The S-later Industrial Aca- demy, incorporated in 1892, has developed thru several stages into The Winston-Salem Teachers College with A rating granted by the state of North Carolina, in 1926. The school plant consists of ten large well equip- ped buildings the majority of which are fire- proof and modern in every respect. Teacher-Training Pioneer Dr. Atkins has devoted his whole life to the work of education. He is a pioneer in the field of teacher-training in Negro education. His college is specializing in teacher-training. The Winston-Salem Teachers College, I be.

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In T953 the Nursing School of Winston-Salem Teachers College was established. The basic nurs- ing program covers four calendar years of study, with equal emphasis on academic and professional training. Graduates are granted the degree ot Bachelor ot Science in Nursing. , Having served the school and college from its beginning until his death in i934, except tor the inter- mediate principalships of C.G, O'Kelly and l:.M. Kennedy, Dr, S.G. Atkins was succeeded by his son, Dr. Francis L. Atkins, who served as president until his retirement in July, i96l. Dr. Kenneth R. Williams was elected President oi the College in l96i. The College is accredited by the following: The North Carolina College Conference The Southern Association oi Colleges and Schools The National Council tor the Accreditation at Teacher Education. It holds membership in the following: The American Association ot Colleges for Teacher Education The Association ot State Colleges and Universities Piedmont University Center ot North Carolina, Incorporated. The North Carolina General Assembly changed the name oi the institution to Winston-Salem State College in lvlay, 1963.

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DER DR. . . ATKIN lieve is the only Negro school specializing in this one branch. From the first it was Dr. Atkins' purpose to develop an institution which could offer expert training in the field of education. So well has he done his work and so successful has been his administration that the school has developed to the point where its plant is valued at S600,000.00. At its last meeting the State Legislature ap- propiated 351,200 a year for two years for current expenses. The increase of 100 in last year's enrollment over that for the previous year is quite significant despite the fact that last year's enrollment was only 281. While developing Winston-Salem Teachers College, Dr. Atkins has found time to study many aspects of the race problem. He has manifested keen interest in the labor and eco- nomic phases of the race problem. He has given serious thought to the important ques- tion of Negro leadership, and is one of that small, group who sense the failure of Negro leaders to remain true and loyal to the Negro rnasses. In fact, Dr. Atkins makes the charge that the majority of our leaders are selfish, narrow, and inefficient. They have more in- terest in their jobs, says he, than they have in the welfare of the race. . Some of His Philosophy A puritan in morals and religion, Dr. Atkins is quite naturally an adherent of educational principles which will produce men and women of strong Christian character. He believes that 'age should give youth a chance and that youth should use every opportunity to prepare for a life of usefulness and service. On meeting Dr. Atkins one is impressed by his plain manners and lack of show regarding himself and all that he has done. He hesitates to talk about himself, but he is deeply con- cerned with the welfare of his school. One may study the man by conversing with him on the social problems in which he is interest- ed. A mutual discussion of such questions serves to reveal the inner depth and wide range of interests of the educator, for he talks quite freely on all the social problems which affect the race. ' Winston-Salem Teachers College is fortun- ate in having a man of Dr. Atkins' training and ,practical experience. He has devoted nearly 40 years to educational work, and dur- ing that time he has acquired great efficiency in his chosen field by continuous study and persistent efforts to become fully conversant glial the requirements and changes in that e . Contributes Much To Church The A. M. E. Zion Church, of which Dr, Atkins is a member, has profited by his edu- cational training and experience. As secre- tary of education he contributed a great deal to the educational program of his denomina- tion. Thru the many graduates who are now teaching in the South, Dr. Atkins' influence as an educator is being felt in every part of that section. The status of Negro teachers is be- ing constantly raised by the type of training given at the Teachers College. But most of all, Dr. Atkins' work is shaping the lives of North Carolina's colored boys and girls where many of the graduates of the school are teaching. To broaden and strengthen this influence for good in Negro education, Dr. Atkins is soliciting the aid of the best prepared mer and women. As fast as he can secure suf- ficient funds he is engaging the service of ex- pert instructors and professors in the field of education. As Dr. Atkins says his purpose is to develop a first class college of education where concentrated attention can be given to the definite task of specializing in the whole field of education proper. In other words, The Winston-Salem Teachers College is to be- come an institution for the special purpose of offering expert training, thru standardized 'nethods and modern equipment, in teacher training. It is this work which stamps Dr. Atkins as a veteran educator. The significance of his work lies in the fact that it runs counter to the notion that teachers did not need any specialized training. Just as the inspiration of God was supposed to fit the minister for his task so it was thought that ordinary train- ing was sufficient for the teacher. But Dr. Atkins knows better. He realizes that the proper training of children is at once the most delicate and the most difficult calling open to men. If the-physician must pass an examina- tion on the basis of standards set up by the profession then teachers must do the same, and Dr. Atkins, is preparing them for the test. In doing this work he is rendering a valuable service not only to North Carolina but to the whole South. Q 12