A USEFUL STEP

The new admission requirement permitting the credit of four years French or German comes in answer to a long-felt need of preparatory schools. In their attempt to give men the thorough survey of modern languages which Harvard expects, schools have been much handicapped by a limitation at the point where a language is just beginning to interest the student. The new regulation should stimulate more study of French and German In school, and consequently lead to a lightening of the burdens of Harvard's language requirements in college.

Although it is announced that there is to be no change in the present language requirements the new rule cannot but lead to a different situation for men in college. For some time a reading knowledge of Latin has been accepted in place of one of the two modern languages, and in fulfillment of this the Cp 4 admission examination has been accepted in place of the reading knowledge test in college. Now that four years of French or German can be offered before admission, a logical step would permit all the reading knowledge requirements to be anticipated by good grades in the Cp 4 examinations.

Harvard's educational policy has been consistently toward fuller individual development for the student. For most men the language requirements have been an onerous and barren task. Any move tending to make them more liberal will be earnestly welcomed.