The establishment at the start of the second half year of an A section, in charge of a professor, for some 20 of the best students in Economics A was a change which met with approval, but a change which affected only a few of the 700 odd enrolled in a course which stands in need of further reorganization.

Instructors in Economics A state that they deal with several types of men. Some undoubtedly cannot assimilate the material in the text book adequately without assistance in the thrice-weekly section meetings. There is a large number on the other hand, who can master Professor Taussig's classic with a minimum of outside aid.

For this latter group the section meetings, degenerating as they so often do into answering of pointless questions and argument over unimportant details, and the time consumed in going to and from them, are a waste of time. Time thus wasted could be spent to further collateral reading or in vagabonding recommended lectures.

The methods by which Economics A is now administered to the 700 are typical of the preparatory school. As Juniors and Sophomores enrolled in the course are already under the guidance of tutors, and Freshmen will be in the following year, it is not illogical to assume that the upper class men and a large proportion of the first year men are in no need of stepping back into a preparatory school class room three times a week.

A very simple alternative suggests itself. The A and B men might well be placed in conference groups, meeting once a week or once every two weeks, and given fortnightly quizzes. This method is used with outstanding success in History 1; and the subject mater in this course is considerably more difficult than that encountered in a study of elementary economics. Such a reorganization, much needed, would be in line with the principle that "the best education is self-education," and is accord with the tutorial system now being increasingly stressed at Harvard.