Funkenstein Criticizes Medical Schools And Outlines 12 Point Plan for Reform

Medical students are "restless, unhappy, and markedly dissatisfied with the education they are receiving," Dr. Daniel F. Funkenstein, assistant professor of Psychiatry at the Medical School, said at a conference in Chicago yesterday.

He called for an "agrarian philosophy" of education in which students would be like growing plants, "which are carefully nurtured, adequately fertilized, watered and given sunlight, protected from weeds, and allowed to grow into their own thing."

Gap in Philosophy

Funkenstein told a conferece on education sponsored by the Student American Medical Association, there is a scrious gap between needs of medical students and the "industrial philosophy" of education which is popular with faculty members.

'The majority of [medical] students complain that they experience constant anxiety and stress. A 'dehumanizing experience' is their most frequent charracterization of medical school," Funkenstein said.

In a 10-point plan to improve medical education he suggested that such competitive practices as ranking by grade poin average and grading on a curve should be eliminated.

Funkenstein also said that:

Students should be allowed to exercise greater control over their education with elected student representatives sitting on disciplinary and possibly curriculum and admissions committees.

Professors should be chosen for their teaching abilities rather than for the research work they have done.

Students with emotional. medical or academic problems should have appropriate assistance readily available free of charge.

More Scholarships

Scholarship funds should be greatly increased so that students would not be forced to seek non-medical jobs during school.

Professors should treat students as respected junior colleagues.

Professors should not overwhelm their students with work but rather challenge them.

Funkenstein, who is director of the Program for Research in Medical Education in the Department of Psychology of the Harvard Medical School, has been studying medical education since 1957.