Small colleges, like small countries, are often more fertile of ideas than big ones. Last week came news of an unusual idea from small Hiram College (enrollment: 325) in Hiram, Ohio. The alma mater of Poet Vachel Lindsay and of U. S. President James A. Garfield, who was once (1857-63) its principal when it was named Western Reserve Eclectic Institute, Hiram started a summer school in 1931 on the "intensive study" plan. Instead of working on a number of things at once, Hiram students spent six weeks exclusively on one subject. Two years ago young President Kenneth Irving Brown extended the plan to Hiram's regular co-educational student body.
Last week Hiram took stock of "intensive study." The faculty voted 24-to-3 to continue it. The students, who study for nine-week periods such subjects as chemistry, economics, or biology and then abandon them for the year, were even more enthusiastic, 88% for, 4% against, 6% undecided. Dull students as well as smart ones liked intensive study. Hiram thought that "a possible trend toward a more introverted type of student was indicated." One student observed: "If you put in four-fifths of your time on economics for nine weeks, you're bound to learn something about it. Of course, if you don't like economics, that's tough."