Tonic for Teachers

At Harvard, students get their marks at year's end, professors at its beginning. Harvard professors last week studied their ratings in a 25-c- pamphlet--the Crimson's annual Confidential Guide to Freshman Courses. From the salty advice which the Class of 1944 hands on to the Class of 1945, they learned how their students rated them and their courses. Traditionally, freshmen buy the book, take what they plan to anyway. But many a teacher has changed his plans, toughened his course, after a dose of the Crimson's tonic.

Excerpts from the 1941 issue:

Sociology A: "While opinions of [Pitirim] Sorokin vary from crackpot to genius, he is still one of the commanding personalities at Harvard. ... It will do you no harm to hear Sorokin on Sorokin at least for half year."

History I: "[Paul] Cram, the star of the staff, gives you an inspiring workout if you are up to it. ... [Bradley] Thompson, dull in section meetings, better in conferences, a ruthless marker."

Economics A: "It would do well to include a little modern economics. . . ."

Fine Arts Ia: "Not a good course; you put more in than you get out."

English A1: "The ability to polish the apple is a great asset."

Greek A & B: "This is one course concerning which there were no complaints."

French E: "Avoid it if you possibly can."

Military Science I: "Dull and factual, but war isn't tiddlywinks. . . ."

Astronomy I: "Astronomy is the one field in Harvard in which actual night laboratory work with Radcliffe is included in the curriculum."

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