THE IDES OF MARCH

The fact that the period of April Hour Examinations is the subject of an annual controversy at least substantiates the premise of the objectors that the present arrangement is unsatisfactory. The chief difficulty is that these tests disrupt the natural progress of the second half year and are of no value to anyone either as a standard for marking or a method of assurance that course work is kept up to date. For Seniors writing theses and preparing for Divisional Examinations the situation is particularly obnoxious.

If April Hour Examinations were abolished in all but half courses beginning the second half year for Seniors who are not exempted from final examinations the completion of the last half year in college could be carried out more effectively and smoothly. The course grades could be made from an average of the mid-year and the final examinations, thus eliminating the necessity of breaking preparation for Divisionals with a few hectic hours of cramming for an unessential hour examination. In the case of successful candidates for honors, the fact that they passed their divisionals with a high grade should be a sufficiently obvious indication that they had adequate course preparation. In view of their excuse from June examinations in subjects in their field their final course grades could be taken from the mid-year marks. In courses not in their field of concentration the final examination is still required. The problem of marks obviously presents no unsurmountable difficulties.

Because the April Hour Examinations actually do little more than disorganize preparation for Divisionals for no really important purpose it is little more than reasonable that, for the Senior Class, at least, they be discontinued. Their function is completely out of harmony with the Divisional examination and their result is merely a collection of negligible statistics of no real value to anyone.