WHAN THAT APRILLE

Now that November hours have made their annual invasion of scholastic peace and gone their way, it is fitting that steps be taken for prevention of those kindred nuisances which are to come in April.

Fortunately, not even the slender arguments traditionally cited in favor of the November hour can be used to support the April examination. In the case of full courses especially, the latter forms no mirror of mutual acquaintance between pupil and instructor. It is simply an ill-timed interruption of tutorial work and serious study, an organized period of cramming brought on in order that a grade, seldom considered in averaging the final mark, may be returned to University Hall. As is recognized by most members of the faculty, the very brevity of the hour examination renders it a ridiculously inadequate gauge of scholastic calibre. It has become a more battle of wits between platform and bench, a futile and expensive bout of mental gymnastics from which both parties emerge the loser.

To judge from recent developments, it is probable that a concerted movement to abolish April hours will meet with little opposition. Instructors openly admit that only the necessity for returning a grade at April causes them to sanction this rude interruption of their programs. The liberal attitude of University Hall toward the matter is demonstrated by the decision last year to exempt Senior honors candidates at the discretion of course leaders. A slight push by the Student Council might well send the April hours into oblivion, and administer a suitable coup de grace to a bit of red tape outgrown with the introduction of the concentration plan.