War Instruction

THERE IS SCARCELY A COURSE in the Dartmouth curriculum which has not been influenced by the impact of the war and which does not to some degree prepare for service in the armed forces, war industry, or the civil service. There are, however, some courses which train for specialized branches of service and these so-called "war courses" have recently been summarized and a description of them distributed to the student body, to the parents of undergraduates, and to all applicants for admission in the form of Dartmouth CollegeWar Bulletin Number 4. (Copies may be secured by writing the President's office.)

In this issue of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE we are glad to publish the article written at our request by Prof. B. H. Brown. His tough-minded thinking on the necessity of changed attitudes by both students and teachers is, we believe, a good sample of the new approach to their work that needs to be made by all who are engaged in school and college study or teaching. The sciences, which Professor Brown represents as a teacher of mathematics, are vital in preparation for service in this war. For the short term acquisitions of skills, no other instruction is quite so fundamental as are the basic courses in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Dartmouth classrooms in these subjects are crowded and certain courses in astronomy, botany, geology, and graphics are especially valued.

The worldwide nature of the struggle increases the need of men trained in foreign languages. The U. S. Civil Service has recently announced an examination for translators in fifteen modern languages. At Dartmouth the language departments have this need very much in mind and are modifying their work to meet it in German, French, Spanish, and other courses.

Many of the courses in the Social Sciences will be helpful to students preparing for war service. Undergraduates are urged to take this type of instruction in addition to regular courses leading to their major department and required for the bachelor degree.