WHAT PURPOSE READING PERIOD

With the schedule of lectures for the first half year nearing the end it is apparent that the Reading Period is again to be debased in certain courses. Assignments are being made to cover a portion of the course work rather than as a general retrospective survey.

This is particularly true of History courses. For instance in History 5 the period from 1841 to 1855 is assigned for reading period study. What sets those years off as not meriting lecture treatment.

When the Reading Period was inaugurated it was intended that the material presented should be contracted to fit the abbreviated lecture schedule. General interest topics for special study were to be assigned for Reading Period Work.

Thus where this miscarriage of purpose occurs two faults are found. The assistance of lectures in portions of the course is not offered and opportunity for a broad survey or specific investigation is denied.