At the middle of each quarter, mid-term examinations are given on the majority of the courses given by the University in order to furnish both the instructors and the students with concrete indication of the progress being made.
In case serious deficiency is disclosed, the ones who are deficient are called before the dean of this school and some attempt is made to determine the why of the deficiency. As long as students are boys, and as long as boys insist on being boys, the system of “jacking up” failing students will probably have to continue. There’s no kick there.
But every quarter these mid-term reports are sent to the homes of the students, and we believe it reasonable to assume that they ae sent to give the parents an idea of what their favorite son is doing at Chapel Hill. For that reason these reports should be prepared as to accomplish the purpose for which they are intended.
However, take the mid-term reports sent out by the University. Unless the parent of the student is an instructor in the University, or a very recent graduate, they mean nothing to him. There is only one readily understood item on the report—a space for “unexcused Absences.” And we have yet to see one of these filled out.
The rest of the report might as well be written in code. The body of the report is made up of catalog terminologies which mean nothing to one who is not versed in the University’s private encyclopedia. At the bottom of the slip there is a note telling the parent to “please see the note on the other side.”
The note on the other side reads:
“This report is intended to give only a general idea of the student’s work. Such reports are sent once each term. After the term examinations reports with grades are sent. In case of serious deficiency or irregularity, special notice is given.
“When a course is marked X, it is indicated that the student’s work in that course is quite deficient. The fact that a course is no so marked does not mean the student will pass in the course.
“When a course is marked W, it is indicated that the student’s work is below the standard required for passing. By improved work the student may pass the course.”
All of which means nothing. One of these mid-term reports which we have in our possession is dated February 10, 1926, and it reached its destination on February 27, 1926. The note speaks of “X’s” and “W’s” but on this particular report there are none of these marks. Here’s a specimen of what is on it:
15 Comp Lit
Now what does this mean to one off the University campus? The parent that received this report admitted that it was beyond him, both the queer marking and the subject alluded to. And so with the rest of the report.
If these mid-term reports are worth sending out, they are worth putting in understandable shape. If they are not worth being made decipherable, then they should be consigned to the waste basket before they leave here.
Lead editorial in The Tar Heel, UNC-CH student newspaper, Saturday, March 6, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073227/1926-03-06/ed-1/seq-2/
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