HEADMASTERS DIFFER ON ADMISSION RULE

"Unjust" and "excellent" are expressions showing the difference of opinion among headmasters of leading secondary schools in Boston and vicinity in commenting upon the new ruling of the University concerning September entrance examinations.

The Committee's recent ruling is as follows: "September examinations, whether taken at Harvard or elsewhere, are no longer accepted as preliminary examinations. A boy who offers in September examinations which if passed will bring his total credit to fifteen units is a final candidate; but if he fails of admission at that time the examinations which he then passes cannot be used in a later year as credit towards admission."

Benshimol Charges Injustice

The criticism of Mr. Max Benshimol '95 of the New Preparatory School was especially bitter. "No institution can thrive on injustice," he asserted, "and the recent ruling is certainly an unjustice. I believe in preliminary fall examinations."

Mr. Willard Reed '91, principal of Browne and Nichols School, considers the ruling uncalled for. "This new regulation means that a boy will lose a whole school year because he fails one examination," he declared. "The Committee has always said that it made it a rule to consult with headmasters on such matters, but I know of no secondary school heads who were consulted on this rule. Certainly no pressure came from the schools and I cannot understand the Committee's motive. The new rule will undoubtedly cause unjust misery for many students.

"Tutoring schools should thrive because of this new ruling." declared Mr. Geoffrey Baker '19 of the Manter Hall School. "This fall our attendance will fall off, but just think of next June! All the men will come then and will require twice as much tutoring, as they will have forgotten so much in a year's time. A year from next September we will have innumerably more students than we would have had, if this new ruling had not been promulgated."

On the opposite side of the question, Mr. S. K. Kerns '98, headmaster of the Country Day School, was well pleased with the ruling. "The new decision does not affect us very much," he said, "as our boys seldom fail to pass in June. Since Mr. Pennypacker became Chairman of the Committee on Admission things have been run well and intelligently. I do not know the reasons back of the new rule, but I think it is an excellent one."

Mr. W. L. W. Field '98, headmaster of Milton Academy, agreed with Mr. Kerns that the new ruling was beneficial to all concerned. "Summer work is always superficial," he said. "It is like a soft layer sandwiched in between two strong layers which represent the regular school year."