THE MUSE IN MODERN DRESS

The ancient struggle in the realm of education between the advocates of a "practical" education and those seeking culture for its own sake enters another phase with the publication of the latest report of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The Department of History, Government and Economics, as one dealing in the actions of men rather than with their thoughts, has yielded to ascendancy in number of students to the Department of Modern Languages, which had held it up to the last six years. To be sure, the difference is small, but a gain of nearly 70 students for the latter department as compared to five for the former is enough to indicate a marked shift in the interests of the new men.

The Modern Language Department has been the object of much experimentation in its undergraduate work. The tutorial system was first used to its fullest extent in this field; language requirements have been adjusted along more flexible lines, and some sort of effort has been made to cut down the amount of elementary work necessary. Adapted as the courses in this field are to outside reading assignments and critical reports, the Reading Period found its most general acceptance among them, while the other group has for obvious reasons been more conservative in its adoption.

Whether this policy is having any direct effect in the increased interest shown by the Graduate students cannot be said definitely on the basis of one year's figures. Very possibly the change is only a temporary one, or, if permanent, it may be due to other causes than the liberal tendencies of the Department. If, however, it can be shown that it is these latter that are the cause of its renewed vigour, the heads of the Department will have verified for them what they doubtless know already--that progressive methods are as productive of results in education as in any other field.