Poll of Students Upholds General Education Plan

Results of a preliminary appraisal by the Student Council of the University's current experiment in General Education indicate widespread student approval of the G. E. courses offered this term, but call for some changes in content and in method of presentation.

From the written statements voluntarily submitted to a 30-man Council Sub-Committee on General Education by from 20 to 30 percent of the men and women in the classes, the Sub-Committee, most of whose members are either taking or auditing G. E. courses, compiled a 16-page report on six of the seven courses. Released yesterday, the report contains views not only of those polled, but also of the Sub-Committee members.

Compiled in order that the General Education experiment progress at rapidly as possible through "full discussion of its merits and defects at each stage," the report was lauded by Benjamin F. Wright, professor of Government and chairman of the Committee on General Education, who affirmed that "those who are conducting the courses will particularly welcome the criticisms, both general and specific."

First Report in Series

"It is criticisms such as these," he said, "which will supply some of the data necessary for any worthwhile estimate of the need for modification next year. This report is, we hope, but the first of a series of such studies."

In view of the purely experimental basis on which the system is now operating, and because the survey was able to sample only a few of the students involved, Roger S. Kuhn '44, Chairman of the Subcommittee, pointed out that the results of the poll give only a highly tentative estimate of the value of the courses. He added that the survey was conducted in December when the year's work was only one-third complete.

Professor Wright expressed similar sentiments, stating that "the courses in General Education were announced as being experimental, and we intend to continue to view them as being of that character, at least until we have had several years in which to try them out and a great deal of data by which to assess them."

Views Generally Favorable

Favorable opinion was very evident amid the welter of impressions and suggestions obtained in writing from students taking the courses. Views often clashed, however, and in certain cases, what one writer complained of or praised, others did not even mention.

The work of the instructors was lauded in most instances. Comments on lectures ran from "provocative" and "remarkable in presentation and subject matter" to "vague" and "slow-moving." Over-simplification was criticized in one course, and some asked for more "actual information and less theory." "The generality of General Education seems to be its most confusing quality," charged one student.

Very few felt that they were being overworked. Some students suggested, in fact, more specific and longer reading assignments, and a few wished that there were a central reference or text book for the course.

Want More Quizzes

The lack of quizzes and hour exams was deplored by some students, but the fact that 40 percent of those in the courses are freshmen accustomed to what the Council calls "the numerous examinations and quizzes of high school and elementary college survey courses" partially explains this criticism.

The report disclosed plans for a more thorough and detailed survey of all students in General Education to be conducted in April. Although its purpose is "to investigate more fully questions raised in this report and to help resolve any problems which may arise," the Sub-Committee states in the current analysis that "no final judgement can be made until the end of the course, and even then its worth may not be immediately apparrent.