TUTORIAL COMMITTEE

The announcement that a faculty committee will shortly investigate the workings of the tutorial system and will make a confidential report on the matter to President Conant is distinctly heartening in view of the widespread discussion that has been carried on throughout the year within the college. Since fall, certain major aspects of the tutorial system have been strongly and consistently criticized; the need for speedy and complete revision has been pointed out time and time again, and it is distinctly to the credit of the President that in the midst of the pre-examination bustle and the Tercentenary preparations, time has been spared to make this important and highly necessary investigation.

The criticisms in effect have stressed the impossibility of affording each and every student adequate tutoring. Neither time, money nor men can be found in sufficient abundance to make this scheme practicable, and the burden becomes even heavier in view of the fact that many men are not interested in tutorial opportunities and prefer to work alone. Therefore, under the present system the tutorial market is glutted either with drifters, or else hard-working but convinced foes of the regime.

The simple remedy is to eliminate this driftwood at the end of the Sophomore year:--after the tutor can tell with reasonable accuracy just what he is up against with each individual. This can be done by a report of the student's interest and capability. Those who wished might dispense of tutorial aid of their own accord, and for men dropped from the ranks of tutees, added courses could be made to fit the bill, and no waste of time would ensue.

Obviously the present system with its overworked tutors and great mass of half-hearted tutees cannot be allowed to continue indefinitely. Money and time are wasted and the tutors are prevented from pursuing their own interests and fields of general development in accordance with the idea embodied in the scheme under which they come and stay at Harvard. A tutor is a definite and recognized member of the faculty with equally definite and defined obligations to fulfill. He is not, however, a nurse-maid nor is he a camp-counselor. He has as much responsibility to himself and to the University as he has toward his tutees. Under the present system he is not being given that freedom to carry out those responsibilities, and that is the glaring fault that has reared its ugly head above all others this year.