To the Editor of the CRIMSON:

Why is it that Harvard requires every man to show some knowledge of French or German before conferring a degree on him while on the other hand it does not demand that a man show any familiarity with the government of the United States, its laws, or its constitution? This information he is supposed to assimilate on his own account and no effort is made to guide his opinions in the world without requiring any fundamental knowledge of the government of their country or without any definite foundation upon which to build any political opinions that they might form, seems to me a dangerous policy when one considers the radical tendencies of the peoples of today.

This situation could be remedied in several ways. A course could be given which would first touch upon the fundamental principles of government in general, then take up American government and the constitution, and finally study some of the more important governmental problems of the day by use of the daily newspapers. This course could be included as a part of the requirements for distribution.

Now, on the other hand, by requiring a man before graduating to pass a general examination in American government which he would take sometime during his college career, the problem could be more easily solved. This plan would demand no dark and foreboding compulsory course to be staggered through but merely a general knowledge of a subject which every American citizen cannot know too well. We would thus be taking another step forward in the promotion of better citizenship. J. B. Squies '24