Most Non-Scientific Divisions to Adopt Reading Period Plan

Early last March the Corporation and Overseers of Harvard College approved one of the most radical educational experiments projected in any of the larger American colleges in recent years. The plan, which received official sanction, at that time, called for a cessation of classes during two periods of the academic year--the two and a half weeks between the Christmas vacation and the mid-year examination period and the three and a half weeks preceding final examinations. These periods were to be known as reading periods, and their adoption was to be optional with the various departments of the University. The plan was to go into affect in such departments or courses as deemed it suitable to their purposes, this fall.

Plan Has Two Restrictions

Two restrictions on the proposed plan were assumed from the beginning--it would not be used in courses regularly open to Freshmen and it would not apply to science courses.

A canvass of the leading non-scientific departments of the University indicates the general adoption of the reading periods in all courses except those regularly open to Freshmen or peculiarly unsuited to such a plan. A majority of the departments canvassed have already approved the new plan in its main outline, while leaving the details, and in many cases the final decision as to its adoption to the individual professors and instructors. The remainder of the departments have not yet passed a final vote on the matter.

Among the departments which have definitely voted to try the reading periods in at least some of their courses are English, Government, Modern Languages, Ancient Languages, and Philosophy and Psychology. While the members of the German Department have not yet taken a final vote on the matter it is felt certain among the members of the department that the reading plan will be put into effect in the advanced courses at least. Comparative Literature, Social Ethics, and Fine Arts officers have decided to leave the adoption or rejection of the reading periods entirely in the hands of the heads of the various courses. The departments of History, Mathematics, Economics, and History and Literature are to consider the plan within the next week or two.

Government Foremost in New Plan

The English Department has resolved on the general adoption of the reading periods in all except elementary courses and English 14. The nature and amount of the work to be done during these periods, whether it will consist merely of reading or of reading checked up by reports or section meetings, is to be decided by the individual instructors. As in all other departments, tutorial instruction will cease during these periods except for Seniors in the final period.

Regular lectures and classes will cease during the reading periods in all Government courses except Government 1, and possibly Government 19. Instructors will assign such work as they deem suitable during these periods and in most of the courses will hold occasional section meetings to help the students in their work.

The division of Modern Languages has adopted the plan for all except elementary courses for a one year's trial, after which future arrangements will be made by the individual courses. As in the other departments details of the new plan will be worked out by the various course heads. The same situation holds in the division of Ancient Languages as in that of Modern Languages, except that the reading periods may be extended to certain courses open to Freshman. Greek B, for instance, will adopt the new system because of the large number of upperclassmen regularly enrolled in its ranks. The division of Philosophy and Psychology will likewise put the reading plan into effect. In Philosophy not only the advanced but also the lower courses. Philosophy A, B, 1, and 1a, will adopt the periods, and it is probable that the usual section meetings will be held in these courses while the lectures are in suspension.

While the department of Comparative Literature is too losely organized to act as a whole on such a question, it was learned that all of the courses included in it will probably use the reading periods because of their peculiar adaptibility to the new plan.

In Fine Arts the reading periods will not be used in any of the courses listed both in the Architectural School and the College nor in Fine Arts 1c and 1d. Professor G. H. Edgell '09 will use them, however, in Fine Arts 5c and Professor C. R. Post '04 in all of his Fine Arts courses. While Social Ethics has taken no action as a department Professor R. C. Cabot '89 will put the new plan into effect in all of his courses and will require reports on the reading done during the special periods. Professor James Ford '04 will likewise institute the reading plan in Social Ethics 1a and Professor C. B. Glueck '93 will try it in Social Ethics 3