G.E. Courses Win Approval

General Education has won "widespread and enthusiastic student approval" during its first 12 months of operation, the Curriculum and Tenure Committee of the Student Council reported yesterday.

Basing its verdict on a poll of more than three-fourths of the students who took the first G.E. courses last year, the committee in its report asserted that "there can be little doubt as to the general success" of the experiment thus far.

"It would be difficult," the report went on, "to find in the College eight other introductory courses in which the students were so genuinely interested and intellectually aroused."

Wright Lauds Committee

Benjamin F. Wright, professor of Government and chairman of the Faculty Committee on General Education, last night lauded the Council committee, asserting that it conducted "one of the most carefully prepared investigations . . . I've ever heard of."

The report "indicates that the first year has been a decided success," he said, "but it doesn't mean we've achieved any goals." Emphasizing that the program remains in its experimental stage, he disclosed that it will take "at least three years and probably longer" before any final decision is made on the success of the program.

"Most Accurate"--Weld

Student Council President Edric A. Weld, Jr. '46 commented last night that the report was the "most objective, accurate, and comprehensive study" issued by the Council since before the war. He added that it was directed "straight at the people who have given the course" and tells them "how successful they've been."

Made in close cooperation with the professors teaching the G.E. courses, the detailed report had great influence in the reshaping of the G.E. program this year, Professor Wright said. It was officially approved by the Council Monday night.

"A method, new to Harvard, has been tested in the educational laboratory and found fruitful," the committee reported. "The principle of studying relatively thoroughly a few representative topics from a given broad field of knowledge was approved decisively by students more accustomed to the usual survey-type courses."

Polled Personally

Students taking the courses were polled personally by members of the committee during the last two weeks of the Spring 1947 term. The enrollment was made up of both Harvard and Radcliffe students from all classes, rank lists, and areas of concentrations. Most of those polled were 18 and 19-year old Freshman and Sophomores who were mainly above average scholastically.

Seventy-eight questions were put to each student, and in addition, he was urged to comment personally on the course.

Detailed Findings

Some of the detailed findings of the committee were:

While the work load was approximately the same as that in other courses, G.E. courses were found "more valuable for the time spent." Almost half of the students polled dubbed their course the "most worthwhile" of their entire schedule.

Many of the students did unassigned reading for their courses, and "a great majority" desired occasional optional meetings to discuss topics not covered in the class.

Headed by Paul H. Coggins "45, committee included Maurice M. Charney '49, William L. Frost '47, William P. Jencks '48, Edwin C. Jordan '50, Hale M. Knight '50, Roger S. Kuhn '46, Morton Rosenstock '49, and Donald T. Trautman '46