Why Specialize?

I read in your columns a plea for an initial year's general course. I consider that any further move to prevent specialization would be contrary to the best interests of the students.

Already the regulations for Stage I make it oblgatory for a student to take four subjects. Previously at secondary school the student will have studied "Social Studies" and "General Science," both subjects being designed to give a general out-took. If the secondary schools fail it is because the student does not see the relevance to his interests. Can a university course be expected to be more successful?

Secondly, time is valuable to youth and this measure would delay the youth's graduation for a year. For many students economic incentives make it desirable that they should graduate young.

All men have special abilities and oilier studies lack interest for them. Cultivation of their interest gives life and interest to their study so this specialization should be encouraged. A. N. Whitehead in his "Aims of Education" (1916) deals with this aspect.

Finally it is to be doubted whether agreement on the content of a general course could be reached. It is certain that external political, religious and other groups would be very interested and bring pressure to orientate the course along certain lines.