MODERNIZING THE ANCIENTS

Until very recently concentrators in the Division of Ancient and Modern Languages were forced in their Senior year not only to prepare for Divisionals and a thesis, but were also required to take examinations in the Bible, Shakespeare, and the Ancient Authors. This was patently an unjustly heavy burden and in response to much pressure the Departmental chiefs consented to allow Juniors to take these examinations if they desired. This move is but a minor improvement and the chief evil still remains,--as it is still necessary to take all of these examinations within a week.

These special topics do not form a homogeneous unit and when lumped together they make preparation for examinations very difficult. Furthermore they are at present given in the second week of the school year which means that the great number of students who must work during the summer have only two weeks in which to read the works of two Ancient Authors, eight books of the Bible, and a number of Shakespeare's plays. The net result is that this important and interesting phase of the field is neglected almost completely, and the examinations instead of stimulating breadth of view, become another of the annoying duties attendant upon the gaining of a degree. In order to give these studies their proper significance the examinations should be split into two or three groups. The Bible and the Shakespeare reading should be tested in the Sophomore year and the ancient authors in the Junior year, none of the exams coming until the term is fairly well advanced. The student would thus be able to prepare intelligently for these examinations under the guidance of the tutor, and furthermore, he would have time to organize his mass of facts and to come to the examination with an integrated view of his subjects.

The lead in this director has already been taken by the Division of History and Literature which now gives its Bible and Shakespeare exams in the Sophomore year, and the ancient authors in the third year. If these subjects are to have any real value to the students of the Department of Ancient and Modern Languages this precedent must be followed and a genuine forward step taken toward the humanization of the curriculum.