I»

(ifyou’rewise)

that all were really pleased with the.course. /,

"WOrd of mouth. A friend who went last year told me about 'so I knew a little of what it was about before I start-

A ed. ll ‘

"What did your friend say a— bout it?

He said it increased his 8 speed and helped him in his studies so I figured I could use the same sort of help. How did you think it could hel ou? ‘ l

I didn't think I was working hard when reading. I thought that if I doubled my speed ’ I would be satisfied.

Did you know about the lab

bgfore being told? . I Yes. I read something about

it but didn't give it any n. more thought. Did you find the study tegh—

nigges valuable? ,

‘ Yes. skimming was espec- ially valuable because it all- owed me to pick out the imp— ortant parts and with pract—

/ ice, the/leSSer details. Hav- ‘ing a mental recall after Areading is also very useful.

So all in all you were really’ satisfied with the course?» Yeah, it was a great help.

. The second student I talked to was Nancy McNeil,1a senior. A friend also told her about the course.

I I

Were ou satisfied with the results of the course?

well my speed wasn't up as much as I thought but I was nervous at the last test. so that slowed me down. I think if I hadn't been ner- vous I could have done bet— ter. I was really pleased with my vocabulary and comp peehension. because they

both went up.r\ What did you think of the

study technigges? Very good. Especially the

one to check over the last paragraph of an article. I've done that‘ever since. Yes, they helped me a lot. In what wa have on most _benefitted from the course? What I really got was con— fidence. confidence,that I was taking in what I was reading. The study techniques helped me in this wayhz also.

Will you continue going go the lab even though you've

finished the course?

well. that depends on my 3 summer job. If I happen to have one near here. say within easy driving distance. I want to start the skimming and scanning part of the co- urse this summer. I'll prac-

tice anyway in my reading. « The third person I located

.was John MacMillan. another business student. John told

mevvrqm a. ‘ , V

ample. every student would have to take two courses

in biology, chemistry, math or physics. ' ~

A compulsory course in "rhe- toric" for students who fail to pass a placement test in composition. It is suggested that this course include' training in logic. "especially ... that area known as the logical fallacies."

The suggestion that all arts students be required to take a survey course in English literature, and possibly one in "development of Western civilization."

The establishment of a sys- tem of faculty advisors to guide students in order to "ensure that a student takes» a sound .'. . program."

This type of "straightjacket" curriculum was popular in' North American Liberal Arts colleges about 50 years ago. It was beginning to fade out when I was a university student in the 1950's. Now it is being resurrected as part of the regreSSlVe4' authoritarian movement lD' higher education, which 15 rapidly gaining ground at UPEI. -

Ther are certain features implicit in such a scheme Which may not strike the reader at first glance.‘

One is the ensurance of full emplovment for a staff

5

who might be underemployed (or even unemployed!) in a free elective system.

This would be one of the results of the "distribution"'

I requirement and the mandatory

courses. boring lectures, or harsh grades alienate students in a free curriculum would I be assured of full classrooms again. .

Another feature id the regi— mentation'and brainwashing ' inherent not only in the com- pulsory oldwfashioned courses but in the use of faculty advisers to guide students into Vsound courses."

I disliked this kind of cur- riculum when I was a student and I am even less attracted to it after 20 years of teaching. In my judgement it would seriously handicap UPEI's efforts to halt its declining enrollment.

It is to be hoped that stu— dents whp feel as I do will make their views known, es— pecially when the proposal. or some version of it is

’ brought before the Senate for final decision.

Yours truly, Don M. Cregier History Department

‘THEuEZADRE. ms.. APRIL 2.1974 Page 7

me that his girlfriend told

him that he should take the

Course because it would help his reading speed.

Didi you know anything about

the reading lab before you were told about it?

well, I knew there was one but I thought it was only for people with reading problems and I read quite a bit so I didn't think it wo- uld be very good for me. I went to Mrs, Manovill and she told me that any student. no matter how good a reader he was. could benefit from the course. After taking the preliminary test, I realized that I wasn't quite as good a reader as I had thought. How did you like the course?

After I got into it I be— came very enthusiastic and flzwas a challenge for me to improve both my speed and comprehension. I only spent a half hour a day at the lab but after a short while I could already see myself imr proving. By the end of the course I had doubled my speed. . '

Didi you believe at first that the reading lab could help you?

Well. I was semewhat dubious at first but my reading was soon coming a lot easier and I enjoyed it a lot more too.

Do you think the study tech—

n'gges are valuable? Yes. but they are better

suited for some courses than for others. Learning how to preview an assignment, that is how to get the main ideas before really reading the article, is a valuable tech— nique.

All in all, do vogythink the course was worthwhile?

Yes. for me it was worth- while. I am going to keep on and try to improve my speed

"even though I've finished

the classes. I think any stu— dent, regardless of his read- ing ability or marks, can benefit from the program over here.

From talking to Mrs. Manov— ill and her students I would say that many students are missing out on a very valu— able course. Perhaps the re- ading lab should be given a more publicity. Anyway. I think I'll go. Mrs. Manovill says to remind anyone else who wants to take the course. that they must sign up at registration either in the fall or afiter Christmas because the classes are usu— ally filled up after reg— istration. You know. you probably could have had this article read in half the time if you'd paid any attention to that skinny little yellow pamphlet.

Signed -— Wiser