AN IMPROVED SUMMER SCHOOL.

The remarkable assortment of courses announced for the Summer School of 1916 marks another advance in the abandonment of the old laissez faire policy. Not long since the Summer School seems to have been looked upon with no great favor by the authorities. The offering of courses was limited; and the "big men" of the winter session were for the most part notably absent from its Faculty. Moreover, no attention whatever was paid to the rooming and boarding problems of the students. The result has been that while such summer schools as those of Columbia and the University of California have enrolments of more than five thousand, the University Summer School has numbered its members in hundreds.

This laissez faire policy has been changed. Last year a number of new courses, in history and international law, especially,--were given by leading members of their departments. A new feature of practical importance was the opening of the Freshman dormitories to summer students. The enrolment last summer was over a thousand.

More significant than the increase in number of students, however, was the greater strength of the courses offered; certainly the quality has come to be far in advance of the quantity, until now the Summer School does not have to depend upon the fame of Dr. Sargent's courses on physical training for its reputation. The 1916 offering, moreover, shows still further improvement. Professor Baker's courses on the drama are sure to attract many persons who are familiar with his leadership in that field. Another distinct addition is afforded in Professor Greenough's course on teaching English composition, and Professor Muensterberg's popular lectures on psychology will reinforce the readings of Professor Copeland in unifying the school, besides giving information of practical value.

Summer school's do not advance the highest scholarship; they are properly and necessarily subsidiary. Large enrolment figures which are mainly composed of summer students bear the mark of inflation. Nevertheless, summer schools do work of much social importance among teachers and business and professional people; and hence the improvement of the University's School is of great significance.