GANUS qivEs pmsoNAl viEws ON C~RisTiAN EducATiON CLIFTON L. GANUS, JR., Ph.D., President of the College, spoke often at churches, schools and camps in behalf of the college. This proved to be important in development work, fund raising, student recruitment and general public relations. He served on the Executive Committee of the Arkansas Foundation of Associated Colleges and was the chairman of the Arkansas Council of Independent Colleges and Universities. During the summer of 1976 he spoke in eight states for Citizenship Seminars and Farm Bureau state meetings. He spoke at schools, civic meetings and on television on Bicentennial themes and spoke at the Yosemite Encampment in California on several different topics. He went to Norway, Sweden and Denmark for two weeks during the summer to learn more of their economic, political and social systems. Ganus was involved in oversight of the graduate school and academy in Memphis and visited several elderships of congregations in Memphis with regard to the possibility of a campaign for the graduate school. He was guest speaker at the meeting of the presidents of Christian colleges at Northeastern Christian Junior College in Villanova, Penn. He also spoke at the lectureship and eider's workshop on campus. He served as an elder at the College church of Christ and preached and held meetings in various cities. The following is from an interview held with Dr. Ganus in September, 1976. Petit Jean: What does Christian education mean to you? Ganus: Christian education to me is the finest kind of education because it means Christ in education. It simply ~eans adding the fourth 'R' of righteousness to the old timey three 'R's. of reading, writing, and arithmetic. It actually is attempting to have an excellent education in the basics of mathematics, English and history, etc., b_ut t~ have it in an atmosphere and sit~~tion that stresses Christ and spm~ual values. Not only in these particular classes are these values stressed, but also in the whole atmosphere of the institution; the social 20 - PRESIDENT life, recreational life, academic life; in every aspect of the work. Petit Jean: Do you believe that the students and graduates of Harding are better equipped to meet the demands ofliving and their occupations because of this environment? Ganus: I feel that we ought to have not only a strong academic program but a strong social program, a strong extra-curricular or co-curricular program because all of these things help to play a very important part in the total development of the students. You learn in your relationships with others, you learn by doing, by being a part of something, as well as learning from the text book or the class situation. So we try to have at Harding a program that is designed to develop the individuals physically, mentally, spiritually and s·ocially. We do believe in strong academic work, and I think that is quite evident in the numerous awards and honors that our students and faculty have won in so many different academic fields. We also think we ought to be strong athletically. In other words, we should do the best of our ability and use the talents that God has given us in everything whether in the classroom, the football field, the basketball court or singing a song in a program. This helps our students to grow and mature, then when they get out into life they do a pretty good job of competing in the world. If you just took out the spiritual side of it and left only the physical, material side, I think we still do an excellent job. Petit Jean: What are the advantages students at a Christian college have over those who do not have this Christian environment? Ganus: I think there are many. To be able to sit at the feet of Christian men and women who are outstanding in their fields and are good teachers is a tremendous advantage. We have an abundance of excellent teachers at Harding, and to study under them is to me outstanding. Another is the opportunities to learn the Word of God. And to become steeped with His Word and Hi Will to me is outstanding and something you can't get in so many places. To sit in chapel every day, to attend Bible classes, and the Wednesday night services are experiences that will help an individual far more than he or she realizes at the moment. We gripe sometimes at having to go to
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