ENGLISH A

The decrease in enrollment in English A is to be approved not because of any intrinate demerits of the course but because thus is signified the removal of an unnecessary burden from the shoulders of over one half of the present Freshman class. Whereas formerly the only method of escape from the elementary and irritating demands of this subject was through anticipatory examinations given before the opening of college--examinations neither widely advertised nor understood a grade of 70 per cent or higher in College Board English examinations now permits exemption. The result is that all those taking the course at present may be said to be in need of its services and those whose entrance papers have proven their ability are at liberty to proceed with work of more advanced nature.

The passing of the day when English A, along with German A and History 1, was a Freshman nightmare requires no parting tears. Never a particularly difficult course it managed to bore to extinction those whom it did not slay by its complex for introductory technicalities in English composition. Now it has been subdivided until almost every Freshman can discover something which especially interests him; under Professor Perry's direction it has become more spirited without ceasing to be practical. If the present plan is satisfactory and if men admitted to the College under the Highest Seventh Rule are to be provided with opportunities for special anticipatory examinations, and one presumes that such will be the procedure, the clouds will have apparently lifted from the once nebulous English A.