Where I Stand 1964 — Hank Greenspun: Nevada Southern grads give LV new stature

Friday, Oct. 13, 2000 | 9:48 a.m.

Note to readers: This column by Sun founder Hank Greenspun appeared on June 4, 1964.

I had an opportunity to break bread with some of the state's top educators and local citizens who have had much to do with the growth of Nevada Southern.

Frankly it was somewhat of a revelation for me. Forgotten were insurance problems, gin rummy addicts, men of commerce, industry and politics and all the tension-producing vagaries of modern-day living.

Years back the most beautiful little towns, no matter how low the income of its citizens, had a university or college. Most of them were publicly supported and the larger were privately endowed. I grew up in a college town -- New Haven, Conn.

For a long time after coming to Las Vegas, it was somewhat difficult to adjust to an atmosphere in which education did not play a significant role. Many people seemed to have closed minds toward higher education. It was a necessary evil and consciences were in some measure appeased by sending youngsters off to military and private schools. The purpose being to get the kids out of here if education was the goal.

There wasn't too much thought given to students who might not have financial means to continue their education.

It appeared to be a community of self-made men who came up the hard way and felt that a little knowledge was a dangerous thing and it was therefore preferable to have a great deal of ignorance.

There were some like Archie Grant, Maude Frazier, Jim Dickinson, Marge Phillips, Guild Gray and Ray Germain, and others who dreamed of a university for Southern Nevada. There were others, and I hesitate to name but a few for fear of doing an injustice to so many who did so much to get the university started.

While so many of us were busy scuffling for an existence, these people devoted their efforts to furthering education, practically demanding that our young people be exposed to as much schooling as they could absorb.

Unlike some areas where they had minutemen standing with rifles to keep education from flourishing, this determined band was not afraid of expanding school facilities and curriculums.

Yesterday found the goal of all their efforts fulfilled when 28 students were graduated with degrees from Nevada Southern.

Suddenly our community has attained new stature. We can point to a university with graduates. We can take our place with towns which believe in giving young people the best that life can offer.

Education of children used to be regulated not by their brain formation, and possible development, but by the wealth of their parents, the stinginess of local government, the sorry influences of tradition and the colossally stupid idea that education is in some way antagonistic to material success.

There is no greater cause to which money can be put than the education of our young people.

If it weren't for education we would still be swinging from trees. If man had let himself alone he would have remained the monkey he was.

The intricate processes of thinking separates mankind from other members of the animal creation. So the most important institutions in a progressive and democratic nation are the schools and its most important citizens are the teachers.

The southern part of Nevada has come of age. The state is 100 years old and I know of no finer way to celebrate its centennial than by doing honor to the first graduates from Nevada Southern.

The fine, educated people at the luncheon to commemorate this first graduating class, who included the president of the university, the dean of its southern branch, the governor of the state and the loyal and hard-working men and women who were greatly instrumental in its establishment, deserve to see the university area around Maryland Parkway soon filled with many more university buildings.

The finest contribution that can be made to the decency, morality and progress of any town is to provide an education for its young people.

We can now take our place with the more enlightened areas of the country.