The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-04-09
HARVARD SENIORS
GET HARDER TEST
Will Be Required to Take GEN
eral Examinations for
Graduation.
TWO SUBJECTS EAEAFT
In Preparation for Ordeal the
College Expands Tntorial
System.

speciar Dispatch TO THE NEW YORK HERALD
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. April For the
first time in the history OF. Harvard Col
lege all seniors except those concentrat
ing in mathematics and the natural
sciences will be required during the
month of May TO take general examina-
tions for graduation The fact that
nearly 800 men. or approximately three
fourths of the graduating class. will be
subject TO these general tests this year
marks an important step in the develop
ment of the system OF instruction at the
college.
Hitherto only seniors whose main
work has been in history. government
or economies. or in the allied field of
history and literature have been subject
TO general examinations for graduation.
This year. however. men who are con-
centrating in other subjects such as
English. romance languages. the class
les, philosophy. psychology. the fine arts
and music must also undergo these gen.
eral tests.
Tho general examination, which thus
becomes more firmly entrenched than
ever before as a part of the Harvard
system of instruction. Is designed to test
the seniors grasp OF the entire field in
which he has chosen TO take his main
work, and not merely of the subject mat
ter of such courses as he happens to have
taken in that. field. The man concen-
trating in economics, for instance, may
have passed his individual courses In
that subject satisfactorily. but until he
passes the general examination. which
shows whether or not he has mastered
the subject as whole and can think for
himself in terms OF economics. he cannot
take his degree. rH
Character OF Examination.
The nature of the general examination
varies with the subject but in most
cases it will consist this year of one or
more three hour written tests together
with a short oral test Of fifteen or
twenty minutes. The man concentrating
in American history. for instance. may
be subject TO a three hour written test
on that subject, a two hour written test
on the entire field of history, another
two hour test on the allied fields of
government and economics, and the oral
quiz as well.
The men concentrating in English lit
erature, on the other hand, must pass
two three hours written tests, one on
English literature and the other on the
Bible. the works of Shakespeare, and
those of two selected classical authors.
The test on Shakespeare and the bible,
In fact. will be required this year for
every man concentrating in modern lam
guages and in the classics. as well as
for those working mainly in English
literature.
About selghty-five seniors are prepar-
ing for the general examination in Eng
lish. sixty-four in economics, thirty
eight in romance Languages, thirty In
government and twenty-eight in history,
with smaller numbers concentrating in.
other subjects.
The men whose main work lies in
mathematics or the natural sciences are
exempted from the general examination
on the theory that advanced causes in
these subjects naturally require the use
OF knowledge gained in elementary
courses, and general test is therefore
unnecessary.
TutOrfal System Expanded
To aid men in preparing for these
general examinations. Harvard is ex-
panding its tutorial system. There are
now twenty tutors in history govern
ment and economics employed by the
college to give assistance and advice to
men specializing in these subjects
Each tutor on the average has some
twenty students. OF whom perhaps six
or eight are seniors. They consult the
tutor about their outside reading for
me examination and other matters con-
nected with their work always in
formally and either singly or In small
groups. There are now several men
acting as tutors in philosophy and
psychology. two in history and ltera-
ture and one in fine arts. while in other
subjects the men are advised by teach
ers bearing some such title as SUPER
visor or advisor
The part played by the general ex-
animation and the tutorial system in
leading a student to correlate the facts
that he picks up in various coures Is
illustrated by the story now current at
harvard OF man who learned about
Alexander Hamilton IN course on
American history. one on finance and
one on literature. but didn't realize
that these Hamlltons were the same
by President Lowell as aiming to fasten
man until his tutor told him SO.
The general examination Is described
the attention OF the undergraduate ION
the subject as a whole rather than on
isolated fragments OF it, TO help him
ito master the subject and make II his
own and ITO impress on him the re-
sponsibiity for his own education for
real value belongs only TO self-educa-
tion. acquired by personal effort
Teachers can help a man to obtain IT,
but cannot stuff 1t into him ready
made"