A comparison of the plan of regulating absences from lectures, or "cuts," followed at Harvard, with the plans in force at other colleges is a source of much satisfaction to Harvard students. At some colleges no absences are allowed without excuse. At others a small fixed number of "cuts" is allowed which no student can exceed except for severe sickness. Other institutions have still different plans. At Yale, for instance, a "new system of cuts" has been tried in the freshman class and will probably be adopted for all classes in the future. According to this system no absence of longer than a week is allowed except for sickness or some circumstance of equal urgency. No absence at all of less than a week is excused, "it being considered that any illness of shorter duration is not of sufficient consequence to warrant absence from the class room."

Here a plan is in force more in keeping with the Harvard idea of letting, as far as possible, each man be the controller and judge of his own action-the idea which gave rise to the elective system and brought about the abolishment of compulsory chapel. It is recognized that the mere grinding at books does not constitute an education, and that a student may have outside pursuits very desirable and necessary to the development of a broad and liberal mind. He may, as many Harvard men do, have to work to pay his way through College.

Realizing these things, the authorities are guided by no inelastic rules in allowing "cuts"; but as far as possible each student's case is considered on its merits. As long as his record in his courses and his standing at the office are good, he is allowed to use his own discretion pretty freely as to the number of cuts he can make. When his record is poor, however, he forfeits his privileges and is held more strictly accountable for his absences.

It is in the adaptability and justice of this system that its value lies.