DANGEROUS SHOALS

The notorious reputation of English A1 must have spread beyond the confines of Cambridge to affright prospective Freshmen. This year sees 170 of the class of 1933 allowed to pursue more interesting fields of knowledge, while their more unfortunate classmates are subjected to the pressure of the educational machine, which is supposed in this particular instance, to turn out the enlightened English student.

For the benefit of future chairmen of boards of directors and prospective senators the course is adding some brief instruction in public speaking for the first time this year. The theory behind this move is sound even if the execution may be slightly disconcerting for the freshmen involved. Beyond this slight change the course remains the same unwieldy monster which causes so much lost sleep in the Dormitories along the Charles.

To banish the split infinitive from the speech of Harvard men is perhaps an object worthy of the serious attention of the faculty, but the process is unduly painful. To sit at the feet of wisdom and imbibe a true love of the English language necessitates inspiring instructors, and in English A1, the inspiring quality of the instructor is more than likely to be determined by the whims of the fickle Goddess of Fate. Given a poor instructor, any natural inclinations towards the study of English are likely to be smothered under the soporific influence of the teachings of the mediocre mind, as many who have received their first and last college instruction in English in this course will ruefully testify.

In spite of the acknowledged improvement of the course it is still one which the sub-freshman will do well to take steps to avoid. His chances of getting one of the really good section men are not great, and it would be well if the whisper still flew about the preparatory school quadrangles that seventy-five percent in English Cp. 4 outclasses ninety-five in any other subject as far as actual value received is concerned.