EDUCATIONAL SYNTHESIS

In an excellent address at Amherst on Saturday logically supplemented by his annual report to the Board of Overseers, President Conant has dealt with some of the fundamental problems of higher education. In his statements of the principles that should govern research and instruction in a university--principles of freedom and liberalism--and in his specific plans for the immediate future of Harvard he exhibits a wisdom and depth, of understanding that are truly admirable. In one aspect of the Report to the Overseers, the recommendation of "professors without portfolio," this understanding of current educational problems is particularly evident.

It is unquestionably true that the departmental system, although necessary for administration, does tend to divide learning into artificial and limiting units. Not only does research in many fields require, as Mr. Conant emphasized, the co-operation of experts from several departments, but adequate instruction often demands similar co-operation. The synthesis aimed at by the tutorial system and the general examinations would be aided immensely by the work of the roving professors suggested in the report.

The difficulty of securing men properly equipped for such positions should not be overlooked. The very specialization that the innovation is designed to co-ordinate makes this task more difficult. Nevertheless, there are a few whose interests and training are sufficiently broad for the purpose. The exacting requirements of the appointments are accompanied by parallel advantages. The incumbents would be enabled to accomplish work of a pioneering character. For this reason it is possible that able men from other institutions would be attracted to Cambridge by the new professorships. Since the experiment is one conceived in a liberal spirit and designed to meet a definite need, it should not be thwarted by any difficulties of detail.