While President Conant's recapitulation of the events of the last year holds little interest for those of us who have been on the scene of action, the report is important as revealing his philosophy of education. The editorial remarks interspersed with the reportorial sections of the document indicate clearly that this administration will deal with men and scholarship rather than with buildings, and bureaucracy. It is now time that the equipment secured during the Lowell regime be put to efficient use.
The keystone of the whole structure will be the roving professorships which will be offered to the most outstanding men in the world. Their presence will serve as inspiration for the rest of the Faculty, will break down the present departmental jealousies and politics, and will enable the students to work under the greatest living authorities. To create a student body which will justify the Faculty, the present plan of large scholarships will be extended until there are about one hundred Conant scholars in each entering class. It is also recommended that several of the smaller graduate awards be combined to create similar fellowships in the Graduate School.
While a three year College course is not directly recommended, it is obvious that one could be established easily if the present policies are pursued. The report states that every effort is being made to make smooth the transition from school to college and it is suggested that advanced college courses may now be chosen if preliminary work has been done in secondary school. It would be only a small step to give college credit for the latter especially since the Chairman of Admissions is now so closely connected with the entering classes; more than six hundred of the Class of 1939 were personally interviewed according to the report. It is also evident that the proposed training for secondary school teachers will raise the calibre of the schools employing them to a point where there could be no question as to the quality of the instruction given and the possibility of granting College credit for it.
