UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
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PAGE SIX
MARCH 26,1947
Kansan Comments
Proctor Exams
Some students in a class of 150 were worried after a quiz they took last week. In spite of the fact that the professor walked about the room, a number of persons managed to do a fairly thorough job of consulting their notes and each other on the questions.
In a class of that size, or even considerably smaller, there is little opportunity for recitation; and quiz results probably are the whole or nearly the whole basis for a grade in the course. It isn't very encouraging to the honest student to appear to know less than the dishonest loafer.
Three ways to prevent cheating were discussed by the committee in charge of investigating the problem. They are student responsibility, faculty responsibility, and mutual responsibility.
But grades really don't matter, someone is sure to say. If they don't, let's eliminate the grading system entirely. If we're going to have a grading system, let's have a fair one.
The student-faculty conference early this month spent some time on the honor system question, but concluded little in the way of specific plans for establishing one.
Under student responsibility, honor courts would decide immediate punishment, probably expulsion. Methods used in other schools studied by the committee are: singing a pledge on each paper that the student has received or given no help; using proctors; and reporting the name of anyone seen cheating.
Under faculty responsibility, cheating would result in expulsion or failure in the course. Using short-answer quizzes or picking up papers in sections were suggested as ways to prevent cheating.
Mutual responsibility was found ineffective because both faculty and students tend to "pass the buck." To state in the K-book that there is an honor system, without having machinery to enforce it, is foolish as long as the prevailing attitude accepts cheating.
Someone contended that the honor system works in the School of Law because the character of examinations makes cheating impossible. In other situations a tradition of honor must exist. If the All-Student council would push such a tradition, or if it were given enough publicity, could it be established?
The answer to that may be found in the experience of Baylor University, Waco, Texas. After five years of unsuccessful attempts to create student honesty, the honor system committee asked the student council to abolish the group. The council refused to recognize that the committee had failed completely; and it was predicted that the body would eventually perish anyway from its own inadequacy.
Now that spring is here, everything is coming up, including prices.
Some universities use a proctor for every 25 students in an examination. With over-crowded classes that is a definite action K. U. could take. It's about time to try something concrete.
One person is hopeful after hearing Dr. John Ise's statement that students need more sleep. He wonders if that means Dr. Ise will retract part of the 1,700 pages he has assigned for a two-hour course.
Dear Editor---
Require Languages
I don't believe that K. U. should increase its language requirements, but I surely believe they should keep what they have. A university, like Kansas, is distinguished from a college, like Kansas State, in having required foreign language courses. K-State doesn't have any foreign language requirements, and in the long run one can see where her national scholastic standing ranks in comparison to ours.
In glancing through the catalogs of other Universities of the nation, one will find that their foreign language requirements are much "stiffier" than ours, and those schools with lower requirements are continually increasing the required hours.
Regarding the article in Wednesdays day's Daily Kansan concerning Mr Malott's "idea" to abolish the foreign language requirement in the College;
With the one-world idea here to stay for a long time, why doesn't K. U. expand its language departments? We may not have war with the USSR; but we all know we'll have many relations with that nation in years to come so let us establish a comprehensive Russian language department. Offer group majors in foreign languages. Begin to put some emphasis on the Oriental languages, and some of the languages of the Near-East.
No, Mr. Malott, it would be a drastic mistake to put ourselves back in the "college" class and abolish foreign language requirements of 10 hours.
(Name withheld by request)
College Sophomore
(Editor's note: We have been unable to discover any basis for the assumption that a language requirement is the distinguishing factor between a college and a university. K-State and K. U. can hardly be compared scholastically because of their different fields of specialization.
Chancellor Malott's suggestion was that the present language requirement be investigated for possible revision, since a foreign tongue in many cases is unused and forgotten. Perhaps a new emphasis might be on understanding economies and culture of another nation.)
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K.U. Army Nurse Promoted In Manila
Frances M. Davison, '44, has been promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in the Army Nurse corps.
A graduate of the School of Education, Lt. Davison entered the army in June 1945. She served at Bushnell General hospital in Bingham, Utah, and Nichols General hospital in Louisville, Kv.
At present she is on duty as a physical therapist with the 10th General hospital in Manilla.
Phone KU-25 with your news.
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