"OUR NOTES ARE NOW READY--"

In any ideal of a college that gives training for character as well as for mind, the tutoring school, so-called, has no place. A college can not do its best work if it counts among its students any considerable proportion of mental cripples, whether they be cripples by birth or by acquisition. Unfortunately there are both kinds here--and, more unfortunately still, the tutoring schools are doing their best forcibly to thrust this state of mental incapacity upon the rest. And it is due to this fact that the present situation exists: where the college wants tutors--must have them--, wants more capable assistants--must have them; but does not find within the ranks of its own graduates a sufficient number of men of character and mentality to fill the positions.

The fact that tutoring schools flourish at Harvard is indicative of a lack of "intellectual guts" among its undergraduates. A large percentage of the students have not the faintest interest in learning; they are much more concerned with acquiring "two C's and a D" as the tickets of admission to Harvard's extra-curriculum activities. Of course the blame for this attitude cannot all be laid at the doors of the tutoring schools--but they encourage it.

Where are we coming to? Divisionals are here to stay; the tutorial system has a firm foothold in some departments, is stepping into others, and will eventually become an integral part of the college's educational machinery. Marks must go; Phi Beta Kappa, according to its present standards, cannot last; entrance requirements must be altered so as to take into greater consideration the character of applicants. All things are tending towards a more honest and less ostentatious form of education. The ability to acquire--and use-- knowledge is the "be all and end all".

In this scheme of things the tutoring schools are worse than parasites; they are a postive check upon any sort of advancement in educational methods, as well as upon any building of character that the college might accomplish--and they must go. First, they must be put out of the college buildings; second, students must be enlightened as to the frequent unreliability of their notes; third, and traditionally greatest, the college must inspire the students with sincere interest in their work. Then, and then only, will the college be even approximating its ideal. These are the sole ways in which to attack the problem; for the student himself who is so weak as to rely on "notes" for a passing mark cannot be convinced of the evil of his ways by argument, utilitarian or otherwise. The hypodermic must be put out of his reach.