The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-12

OLIVET. Mich. April II. - For
seven months no raucous class bells
have rung on the Olivet College
campus. nor have there been cuts"
examinations. or compulsory lee
lures for the 207 students. The re-
suit may have a marked effect on
the future Of Americas system Of
higher education.
Seven months ago. Joseph H.
Brewer Jr., 36-year-old president Of
the 91-year-old college. established
the premise that students go to
college to study On that basis, he
placed culture on plates before the
students and let them help them
selves. The results have been graft
flying, and he believes they will
eventually benefit the national sys-
TEN.
The new deal, designed. accord
ing to President Brewer, to break
the lockstep of elaborate machinery
by which we conceal ignorance" was
put into effect last September at this
little college in farm area q miles
south Of Lansing.
Assigned Basic Tutor
On the Olivet campus, an infor-
NAL examination is the only en-
trance requirement. Upon being re-
ceived, the student is assigned to a
"basic tutor" in the division where
he plans to study-junior or senior.
The tutor remains his guide through
college, planning his work and slim
ulating his thought.
The work program consists OF
lectures, seminars and conferences.
Lectures are lectures and students
may attend or not. as they please.
There is no roll call, yet the per-
centage of attendance is high.
The younger students work largely
in seminars. discussion groups with
not more than 10 members. Older
students use the conference" more
freely for mass activity.
The system is based on the
thought that self-education is sound, /
where there is both a guide and a
goal. Therefore, the tutors confer
individually with students. suggest
their reading, and act, according to
Dr. Brewer, "as catalytic agents on
the minds of the men"
Attendance Good Manners"
Frequent papers are written by
the undergraduates as a basis for
discussion by the seminars or con-
ferences
The only restriction regarding at
tendance at the conferences, it was
pointed out, is one of good man
ners." Since attendance. in a
broad sense, is looked upon as a
social engagement, 1T is considered
breach of good taste to absent
oneself from them" according to the
president, who added that most
students want to attend them be-
cause they feel they will miss some |
thing valuable if they do not"
The problem of marks, credits
and quizzeS. is confined to pre-
1minary examination" which stu
dent must pass to enter the senior /
division, and a final examination"
when he receives his college degree. |
Even the examination is less formal
than the grinding interrogationS is
sued by masters at the usual uni
verSitieS.
DR.. Brewer is enthusiastic over
the progress made during the first
educational year in which the sys-
TEN has been tried.
Departmental Lines Missing
Already he said. departmental
lines. the old water tight compart-
ments, are disappearing, and one
can see in the college the beginnings
Of & process for unifying knowledge,
Io= bringing the separate parts to-
Seth2r in a co-ordinated whole"
The biggest factor in the changed
attitude of Olivet students. in his
opinion. is the tremendous relief
from the bondage of the machinery
OF courses, time schedules. hours.