Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-05-09
Improved English Aim of
Harvard in NeU Campaign


lIarvard's interesting ana possibly
momcntous new system for bringing
up the quality of English composition
throughout the college and graduate
school. Is now IN operation under
committee of seven members Of the
faculty with an executive secretary,
or inspector OF English" as he has
been called, in the person of w. r.,
Castle.
Launched as Il is In the closing
months OF tile academic Year, the new
system has hardly had time to cut the
fun width Of the swaih that logically
Hes ahead of IL. MIR. Castles new post
as editor of the Graduate Magazine
viii remove him from the faculty. and
from the English work, and the ap-
polntment Of a new secretary 10 the
English committee will perhaps delay
the working out of definite methods.
A start has been made, however,
and the attention of the several de-
partments of instruction has been
more or less fully secured By the vig-
orous and even highly spirited dis
cussion within the faculty which ac-
vompanled the development Of the
Ikcheme
Caused by Careless Thinking.
The result Of the now system. If Il
Is effectively worked out and applied
should be of concern TO all American
colleges Much needed light on the
college teaching OF English compost
ton may reasonably he expected from
IT, Scholarship as defined by much
present practice may need to he over
hauled.
When Il Is reliably reported that the
nascent or otherwise scholars of the
| graduate school of arts and sciences
| furnish pruportionately MS much bad
English AS the undergraduates Of the
leolegc II may well be inferred that
something besidea English compost
ton needs attention, This has been
markedly the experience Of the busi-
ness school. which seems 10 have
shown by its recent tests that bad
English grows out of careless thinNing
There Is every reason TO expect the
same demonstration for the college
and the graduate school 1t might DO
disagreoable: but II might also afford
some explanation of the disfepute I'M
TO which scholarship Is said TO have
| fallen,
The system as II Sets Out.
The seven following professors rep
rosenting various departments have
! HffH NHNNiHAfu AN Ait AVAttIfAttN va
students Use Of English. j, =. Ford,
modern languages. chairman; Charles
y. Gulick, rlasslcs G. ~ 1ireenough
English; James n Woods, philoso-
| ply. A, n Holcomb. history, Kersopp
Lake. divinity; Il. Dec Ward. china
tology
The powers and purposes Of the
leommittee are defined IN these four
resolutions Of the faculty. they make
la somewhat interesting charter:
"a permanent committee OF the fac
ulty on students use OF english shall
be appointed. such committee to be
made up OF members OF several de-
lpartments, aud to have general SUI
pcrvision of our students written
English.
The executive officer of this COM
mitteo shnll be It's secretary. Vito shall
be 4 memher Of the committee and ot
I the faculty II shnn I've a part OF his
duty Go inspect, from time to time,
! the written work OF students and to
lreport 20 the committee on its quality.
Instructors IN all departments, es-
lpecaily men recently appointed, shall
be- invited CO confer With the secre-
tary concerning our students usual
faults and the best method OF correct
ing them
special Work for Deficient.
/ IAN instructors shall be expected 10
/ refer students who seem 70 them defi-
Client IN English Ia the secretary who
shall advise these students, and who
may impose on them special tasks
such as omtsldc reading and reports
i or additional pr, scribc'i work ia Eng
/ lish composition. such as work not
lceuniing for the desrec,
The formation OF the committee
with these. and perhaps other powers,
WINS the result Of the resolution OF the
loNcrseers. passed IN May nf last Ncar
tThc perfectly correct opening sentence
lof this resolution ttollowingl has
I what may seem 10 those who are IA
!, lmiliar with oar students usual
faults" 4 certain enjoyable nalveie;
lin View OF the various and convinc-
ling proofs brought 10 the attention OF
the board II ovrrscers that the stu
dents both III their entrance and cui.
Ilegs examination papers especially in