SR_DPI_DNE_Special_Subject_File_B5F1_Durham_NC_College_Negroes_010

Attention is called to three items in the organization and teaching
program just outlined.

(1) Ordinarily, one would not expect a teacher of history to teach
psychology, nor an instructor in history to teach education; but one finds
that combination at the North Carolina College for Negroes. It would be
more logical, as well as psychological, to have Psychology taught by the in-
structor in Education, and thus give all the history to one teacher.

(2) If one observes the size of classes it will be noted that, for the
most part, the classes whose enrollment exceeds 30 students are those subjects
which are required of freshmen. In our opinion, of all students that should
be in classes not to exceed 30, it ought to be the freshmen; for they need the
maximum individual attention. This would be especially true in such subjects
as English and French in which opportunity for frequent self expression is quite
essential to learning.

(3) While there are a number of classes whose enrollment exceeds 30 students,
there is a considerable number of very small classes. Out of a total of 47 classes
there are eight whose enrollment ranges from 1 to 5 students. In such classes
the cost of instruction is prohibitive. One half of the total time of the teacher
of French is given to the instruction of eight students. In our judgment, only
under most unusual circumstances does it seem that an institution would be
warranted in teaching a class with fewer than 5 students; there are six classes
with fewer than that number now.

Since, in our judgment, some slight changes in the organization of the
departments of instruction and in the administration of the curricula would help
toward meeting the requirements for a standard college, we are making, at the
proper place, recommendation on these matters.