Three on Faculty Voice Approval Of Bruner Plan

Three Faculty members have voiced qualified approval of the three and one-half year seminar program of accelerated course work and independent research which was proposed Thursday by Jerome S. Bruner, professor of Psychology and member of the Committee on Educational Policy.

Dean von Stade termed the proposal a "fine idea," and Carl Kaysen, professor of Economics, found the proposal "reasonably appealing." Kaysen said, however, that other possible programs, like the Bursary Student program at Yale, ought to be considered. He cautioned that "we don't want to go too far with course reduction and throw courses out the window."

The seminar program, Kaysen said, is one possible attempt to excite those students who do not realize the pleasure of "real intellectual work."

Dean Monro also liked the general idea, but felt other proposals should be considered. He felt that the College ought if possible to do something along these lines for next fall.

As a slight modification of Bruner's proposal, Von Stade suggested a linking of the Advanced Placement Program with the seminar program. Freshmen should have several opportunities throughout the year to enter the seminar program, he said, and one of these opportunities should occur at the beginning of the year. He recommended that Freshmen be chosen for immediate entrance on the basis of Advanced Placement Examinations and that others "filter in" as evidence of their capabilities is shown.

Some students need "real incentive to get their teeth into course work," von Stade continued. Nothing that 11 of the 15 Freshman in Group 1 at the end of the first semester had not received Advanced Placement in any course, he suggested that Bruner's seminar program might be offered as a reward for achievement.