Chemistry Professors Divided on Question of Tutorial System With General Examination

"Tutors and general examinations should be introduced into the Division of Chemistry," said Henry E. Bent, Assistant Professor of Chemistry yesterday. Professor Bent went on to say: "Since tutorial work should not interfere with research investigation by professors, the University should hire a staff of well-trained tutors.

"The time taken by tutorial work would necessitate reducing the number of courses required for a degree from sixteen to fifteen, but any greater reduction might leave gaps in the student's knowledge which would unfit him for industrial or post-graduate work."

Another important problem connected with the proposed tutorial system was indicated in the following statement by Grinnell Jones, Associate Professor of Chemistry. "The tutorial system should be adapted to two types of students: first, the student who concentrates heavily, taking perhaps eight or nine courses in the Division and satisfying only the minimum requirements for distribution; and secondly, the student who desires a broad general education and prefers to postpone specialization until he enters the graduate school. A distinction might be made between these two types, and only certain students would be admitted to research work.

Professor George S. Forbes '02 presented the minority view as follows: "The unified nature of the work in the Division of Chemistry reduces the necessity of a coordinating agency such as general examinations or tutors. Such an agency might be indispensable in History, Government and Economics, where the courses do not follow so logically upon one another. Also, the student does much semi-independent work in collaboration with laboratory instructors; especially in certain more advanced courses where the second half-year is devoted to some research problem."

In case the system were introduced, Louis F. Fieser, Assistant Professor of Chemistry thinks there should be an informal general examination for candidates for honors.