The list of changes just announced by the English Department in the courses offered for the year 1924-25 is significant from more than one point of view. In the first place, it is the evident intention of the faculty of the University to eliminate entirely what have commonly been termed "sure C snaps", which is as it should be. In the raising of the standards of such courses as Music 4 during the present year, and the removal of English 6 and certain public speaking courses in next year's program, is seen a genuine effort to raise the scholastic level throughout the University which cannot be too highly praised.

It may be questioned, however, whether the elimination of English 6 is altogether wise. There are, every year, a certain number of men who cannot attain higher than a C grade in English A, and yet who honestly and undoubtedly need further practise in composition. As these men are ineligible for more advanced courses, the new program will be English D, which cannot be counted toward a degree.

The other important point in the new system is the chronological arrangement in which the literature courses are to be arranged, instead of the haphazard potpourri which they represent at present. By guaranteeing that no important period of English literature from Anglo-Saxon times to the present will be neglected, the faculty of the department makes possible a much more nearly perfect grasp of the development of literature, and incidentally guides the student toward the natural preparation for English divisionals. If this same system could be carried over to other departments, notably that of History, another perceptible advance would be achieved.