Harvard Advances

Another interesting innovation is about to be tested in the field of education. Harvard university, if is believed, is considering a plan whereby classes and lectures will be suspended for a period of several weeks before mid-year and final examinations. Such a move is designed primarily to give students additional time for personal investigation as well as more chance to prepare for finals.

Undoubtedly this play holds possibilities for improvement over the present system of last minute cramming. It would eliminate a hurried review with the consequent mere superficial knowledge of the subject, and, by permitting a leisurely and thorough preparation, would tend toward deeper understanding of the courses studied. The proposed scheme would also bring greater fairness, for every member of the undergraduate body would have an equal amount of time for review, thus doing away with the necessity, in some cases, of attempting to prepare for four or five finals within several days. It is conceivable that this new plan might decrease the number of students whose scholastic work is deficient--if supported by the whole-hearted co-operation of the students. For therein lurks the danger of the Harvard move.

American college youths have so long been accustomed to a paternalistic attitude on the part of the institutions that they might fail to realize the benefits accruing from the suggested period of research at their own will. In English universities, where the plan is now in use, it has been the product of gradual evolution, and the students there have been brought to a gradual understanding of the importance of properly utilizing their pre-examination respite. To suddenly thrust such a change on the college students of this country might raise serious difficulties for the plan, and possibly result in its failure. At any rate the experiment, if carried out by Harvard university, will be watched with interest by the other colleges of the country and may result in a general move for more initiative on the part of the students and less paternalism on the part of the faculties. --The Michigan Daily.