Introductory Courses Should Stick to the Basics

The staff uses Professor Higonnet's controversial lecture as an avenue to discuss the ever-present debate over whether traditional or new teaching methods are best. The staff comes down on the side of a balanced approach, and praises Higgonet for his innovation.

I also favor a balanced approach; innovation and new ways of thinking about history are essential to a vibrant intellectual community. Yet I do not believe the "postmodernist" approach is appropriate for an introductory course like History 10b.

Especially in an era in which Harvard students are entering with weak fundamentals, the basics are best. It is not yet clear whether Higonnet intends to abandon these basics in his course. His above-quoted statements are reassuring. Perhaps he understands better than the staff does the importance of time-tested techniques.