Experimental Plan At Law School Praised in Report

The chairman of the National Endowment for the humanities commended a Harvard Law School program which teaches the humanistic aspects of law in a report to President Nixon Friday.

The report, given by chairman Ronald S. Berman, said that Harvard's plan was designed to "enrich teaching research in law" and move away from a purely pragmatic approach to legal questions.

12 Fellowships Provided

The program, designed by Law School professors, provides 12 fellowships in law and humanities for law school teachers from all parts of the country. It lasts one year and stresses the literary and historical approaches to law.

Roger D. Fisher, professor of Law, and Albert M. Sacks, dean of the Law School, developed the program in graduate law and humanities. Fisher is current director of the project.

"In theory," Sacks said, "it will make available a somewhat broader education for law teachers."

Though the endowment is a one-year grant for 1974, Sacks said he hopes that the program can continue after this year. "We're aiming for at least another year," Sacks said. "One year is not enough time to judge the program."

Response Enthusiastic

Sacks did not commit himself to any judgment of the program, saying, "Nothing definite in terms of appraisal can be made as it's too early." He commented, however, that the general response to the participants was "quite enthusiastic."

Daniel Aaron, professor of English and American Literature, who teaches in the program, said yesterday, "I think it's a very good program."