ﬁhmh

b¥.cl3iﬁﬁiwﬁﬂf%§i -¢q Tbiﬁg the s'e9°n§.+: Y‘é'a‘r‘I-i...a.t. rheuumvefsi‘tv ' ~ of Prince Edward Island~,ih stipulated that all in; '0 coming students take a course in composition. Such action was prompted by the results of an objective test on basic grammar written voluntarily by many freshmen students in l975. The fact that 60% failed the examination confirmed the suspicion of many professors that a majority of students had insufficient writing abilities.

COURSE REQUIRED

Last year all incoming students were informed that they were required to take English l5l, College Composition, before com- pleting their degree. The course stressed such things as common errors in writing, how to organize and write an essay, and how to make the best use of a

co M in l s on v” "Co MP 0 SIT cons DEREDJC'RUC IAl

library. Lprm,Terny Pratt,

.competency test coordinator;

stated that most professors who taught the course saM_ a marked improvement in the work of,their students,

Those who completed the

' course had various opinions

on its effectiveness. One student said, III was glad

I was forced to take the course. It was quite help- ful.” Another student

felt it was an unjust imposition and said he “did not learn a thing.“

TEST GIVEN

Due to economic restraints and a great number of fresh- men students, there were not enough professors to accommodate all the students whp had to take the compulsory course this year. So, for the purpose of reducing enrollment figures, a test was written by the incoming students during orientation week.

New. s.u. Vite—President eya k' 30’u

by Keyin Gauthier

During Sunday's Student Council meeting: the council voted to withhold our dollar-per-student contribution to the Atlantic'Federation of Students. It was the council's opinion that we could not commit_the students' money to A.F.S. until the federatidn ' established a clear set of goals and plans for the coming year. We are also waiting for the declaration of a clear, written constitution for the federation.

Everyone realizes that A.F.S. has great’potential to work on behalf of the students of the Atlantic‘ Provinces. But; with its members scattered over the entire eastern coast of Canada, it will be difficult for the executive of A.F.S. to maintain close contact with everyone. At present, .nobody at this university knows exactly what A.F.S. Plans to do this year and where it plans to take the _students of U.P.E.I. That IS the reason for the council's decision to with- } hold our contribution.' When - we are satisfied-that w.e

'cah hold full confidence in A.F.S. as our regional respresentative body, then, and only then, will we authorize the donation of our membership fee.

The federation's financial position is very shaky, but this is because they have not yet received money from the member universities.

The president of Dalhousie University Student Union has said that his council will not commit themselves to

'support of A.F.S. until the federation issues a written 7

constitution and plans

for the coming year. The U.P.E.I.S.U. council decided that this move was entirely appropriate, and we decided to follow suit.

I hope that nobody gets the impression that the council is opposed to A.F.S. and working against it. The students of Atlantic Canada need an organization like this to help protect our interests against government and university administrators. But juSt because we need. the federation, that I doesn't mean that we have to rush into it blindly without any thought to- ward its actions and possible consequences.

' education and such a void

nges-wi h insufficient ,‘ ‘ .édaptation-to,sociological

.any sort of dignity for the

' exception of 2 math courSes,

The Sim Thursda?Q$eDt:-”29r,*2i977? Page 3.4?

ION CO U RSE

at any level, and 3

required englishes, students may fail two subjects and still receive a high school diploma.

This gruelling exam— ination entailed writing a 300-WOrd essay-on one‘of’ ten intereStingLand diverse- topics. The-tests were graded on the exchtion ofg’ the fundamentals of writing such as spelling, grammar, sentence structure, para- graph development, and overall organization and expression. The freshmen students seemed surprised when the posted results showed that only lhO, out of the “Oh who wrote the examination, employed sufficient writing ski]ls to warrant a pass.

RATIONALIZATION

Mr. Steve Connolly, guidance counselor at Colonel Gray Senior High School, expressed the opinion that it is essential that all students be given a good opportunity to complete grade l2.

“Most job entry levels new require completion of high school regardless of whether this program meets entrance requirements of post-secondary institutions. The long range implication of not graduating from high

.mwgchool canygeriouslx.affect the entire lifestyle of a- student,” stated Mr. ' Connolly.

Twelve years of formal

of knowledge.; The problem;

pressures placed on both the educators and.the

students. . - . . Administrators recognize

that not all students have the ability necessary for university studies even though they have completed high school. But if a student decides to go to university, and he gets accepted, he has the right to attend.

Students may have found it possible to complete their secondary education without~too much academic challenge. Many realized this year, in” the area of english composition, that this was not to their advantage.

CAUSES OF PROBLEM

The idea of higher education going hand in hand with a higher standard of living predominates in our society. A person can no longer quit school with

age of the selfemade man is, dead.

In order to achieve an established goal of educ- ation for the masses curriculum must be attractive, and success attainable, in the eyes of the student. To meet individual needs there ~must be flexibility in education programs, and achievement must be relative to ability.~

UNIVERSITY RESPONSIBLE

Once students have been admitted to a university the institution is ' responsible for their academic development. in order to establish and main- tain credibility a school must set standards. And studentS' must meet these standards in order to obtain a degree.

The compulsory english course at U.P.E.I. is a ,

,step in the right direction. This in itself is not sufficient in up-grading

the standards of an all- round university education. But it is a recognition of an unacceptable level of english competency and a positive attempt to

correct it.

Language skills are of major importance and relevance for the entirety of one's life. In the words of Sir Francis Bacon in his essay Of Studies, “Reading maketh a full man, ' conference a ready man, and writing an exact man.“

SOCIAL PROMOTION

Education boards have recognized a need for social promotion, especially at the junior high level. It is generally an accepted policy that no student should spend more than four years in the three year junior high program. A student is then promoted to senior high. The responsibility moves to the high school to find Suitable programs for all individuals in order that they may graduate within a reason; able amount of time.

Most high schools on P.E.|. operate on a credit system. In such a program students take 6 courses each year but it is only necessary that they obtain l5 credits within the 3 year structure. With the

I,