A COLLEGE PRESIDENT SPEAKS OUT.

DESPITE THE IMPORTANCE OF COURSES DESIGNED TO INTEREST THE ENGLISH MAJOR AND TO PREPARE FUTURE ENGLISH TEACHERS, ENGLISH DEPARTMENTS MUST CONCERN THEMSELVES MORE WITH THE NEEDS OF THE GENERAL STUDENT. DEPARTMENTS MUST ALMOST REVERSE THEIR CURRENT VALUE SYSTEM IF THEY HOPE TO SHAPE YOUNG MINDS AND PROVIDE A HUMANISTIC ALTERNATIVE TO THE NARROW PREMISES OF THE QUANTITATIVE DISCIPLINES. SINCE THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF THE ENGLISH PROGRAM SHOULD BE TO EVOKE FROM STUDENTS WHATEVER IMAGINATIVE POWERS AND INTUITIVE PERCEPTIONS ARE POSSIBLE FOR THEM, TEACHERS SHOULD ASSERT THE RELEVANCE ENGLISH HAS TO HUMAN EXPERIENCE AND LEAVE THE PRECIOSITIES OF ITS PRACTICE TO ENGLISH MAJORS. FOR THE STUDENT WHO HAS NO INTENTION OF BECOMING AN ENGLISH MAJOR, SUCH AUTHORS AS NORMAN BROWN AND HANNAH ARENDT COME CLOSER TO REPRESENTING WHAT A DEPARTMENT MIGHT GIVE THAN DOES I.A. RICHARDS OR NORTHROP FRYE. THIS ARTICLE APPEARED IN "THE ADE BULLETIN," NUMBER 15, OCTOBER 1967, PAGES 18-22. (BN)