Curriculum Task Force Proposes Changes
CompOed by
Catherine Bates
I The Curriculum Task Force
^mmittee, one of the seven
[forces created last fall, held a
[meeting in the Backdoor to give
iudents a chance to learn of the
froposed changes for the basic
listribution requirements.
- Approximately 30 students
Pattended the meeting. Faculty
lommittee members are Dr.
Byers, Dr. Thompson, Dr. Kurtz,
Hr. Mangum and Mrs. Edwards,
hey outlined the proposals and
—jiswered any questions about
[them. These proposals are
lenative and must be approved
by the faculty before they
become active.
The basic concern is that we
need more highly integrated
bourses in our basic distribution
requirements (BDR). 'The core
Eurriculum proposal results in a
reduction of overall BDRs. These
fire as follows:'
j English - 2 courses. These
lourses would stress written and
|ral skills as well as emphasizing
I oral communication.
History - This area was deemed
lacking vital background
courses which build on the
classical history of western
civilization. The history
department would draw on
resources in the college and offer
a “package deal”. This package
wo^d be 2 history courses which
would simultaneously interact
with 2 humanity courses
(Philosophy, religion, music, art,
literature). The idea is to give the
student more depth of knowledge
and a more well rounded concept
of Western culture.
Social Sciences - 2 courses.
These courses would be in
tegrated with the other depart
ments interacting programs.
(Social sciences include
economics, political science,
psychology and sociology.)
Natural sciences - 2 courses.
One of the sciences (biology,
chemistry, physics) would
require a lab, the other
requirement does not require
one. A new general science
course for non-majors is being
considered which would in
corporate the concepts of the role
of science in the modem world.
Foreign language - reduced
from 3 to 2 courses. The aim is to
insure a reading ability in either
a modem or classical language.
Several options are being
suggested as ways to fulfill the
language requirement. A
proficiency test will be available
for those who wish to exempt a
level of study. A student could
take one semester and then the
proficiency test, or take one
semester and then a January
program of concentrated
language study to fulfill the
requirement.
Physical education proposals
include giving Vi credit for each
required course, with 2 terms
(instead of the current 4) of P.E.
required for graduation. This
credit will not count in quality
point ratio. Persons over 35 are
omitted from the P.E.
requirements.
Math - Before graduation, each
non-major would be required to
pass a proficiency test which
would demonstrate a working
knowledge of decimals, fractions,
percentages, word problems and
graphs. Further details of this
program have yet to be worked
out.
Basic distribution
requirements for Bachelor of
Science majors involve only a
few changes from the Bachelor of
Arts. BDR’s for a BS degree
would be 2 courses in English, 2 in
Western Civilization, 1
Humanities, 2 foreign languages,
1 social science and the math
proficiency.
These proposed BDR changes
would incorporate Salem’s
School of Music. The required
courses for music majors now
include 2 Engljfh courses along
with their other B.M.
requirements.
Under the
suggested changes a B.M. degree
would include 2 courses in
history, 1 science, 1 social
science, 2 P.E., 2 English and the
math proficiency.
The Curriculum Task Force
stresses that this new basic
distribution program is only
tentative. Its incorporation into
Salem’s curriculum depends on
faculty approval and will soon be
voted on.
SALEHITi:
Volume LX
Salem College, Winston-Salem, N.C., Friday, April 21, 1978
Number 19
Salemite Clarifies
Journal Article
Sabine Brech and Katarina Bonde
Many students at Salem have
been talking of nothing but the
article which appeared in
Monday’s Winston-Salem
Journal concerning two foreign
students, Katarina Bonde and
Sabine Brech. Most of the
comments about the article were
negative and many Salemites
took offense at what Katarina
and Sabine had to say about
American college life.
I talked with them about their
comments as they appeared in
the Journal. Both were quick to
say that they did not intend to
retract any statements, but felt
that they were quoted out of
context by a novice Journal
reporter.
Sabine and Katarina said that
the purpose of the interview was-
originally concerned with their
appearances in the Pierette’s
spring production Once Upon A
Mattress. The questioning later
turned to asking them to compare
European university life to their
experiences with American
university and college life.
The Journal article partially
recorded their observations
about American college life and
failed to print the other side of the
story. In doing so, the statements
appeared totally out of context
and misrepresented what Sabine
and Katarina said.
Following are some excerpts
from the Journal article as they
appeared on Monday, April 17,
under the byline of Barbara
Cornell.
According to Miss Brech, “For
me it was so amazing because
(German) universities are highly
political. You can’t avoid having
your own opinions. All they care
about here is dating boyfriends
and where the next party is going
to be.”
The women agreed that
campus life is not good
preparation for the working
world. "You never do anything
for yourself." says Miss Brech,
who' at the age of 22, is doing
graduate-level studies and
helping teach at the college.
“You just go from one shelter to
another, from the shelter of home
to the shelter of college.”
Having made a last-minute
decision to study at Salem
College, Miss Brei. h s.ays her
first impressions left her
“sortof disappointed. " She was
especially struck by the “dumb
questions” Americans would ask.
Miss Bonde says someone once
asked her if Switzerland and
Sweden were the same countrji.
Because of the laxity they have
found in American education,
neither student is leaving with
what she considers a complete
academic experience. Neither
student will have her grades
applied toward graduation at her
ovm school. But the emphasis on
social life has at least given them
a slice of Americana to take back
home.
Perhaps these statements
would not have offended so many
Salem students if they had seen
both sides of the comparison
which Sabine and Katarina
made. Cont’d. on two