The Deerfield Scroll - Vol. 45 No. 7 - 1971-72 English Elective Program

Sep 15, 2026

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Deerfield Academy’s 1971-72 English elective program expands to include the winter term and adds courses to broaden student choice. A committee led by Mr. Charles Hohner reviewed how fall outlines could intensify through winter-linked study, while spring electives would remain largely stable with new disciplines such as philosophy and sociology. Specific offerings include American Literature options like evolution of American poetry, Puritanism, and Transcendentalism, with course flexibility extending to juniors and sophomores.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time12 min

AccessFree to download

The DEERFIELD SCROLL

1971-72 English Elective Program Expands To Include Winter Term

Committee Weighed Alternatives

Outline Courses In Fall

Headmaster Praises

Electives Are Varied

SCROLL Chooses Chris Watson

Work With Crafts

Juniors Take Over Early

# The DEERFIELD SCROLL Deerfield Academy,Deerfield,Mass.01342 February 13,1971 Vol.45.No.7 1971-72 English Elective ProgramExpands To Include Winter Term Composition I,Classical Literature,and Shakespeare I.Students whotake the American Literaturecourse in the fall(either sopho-mores or juniors)are offered eightchoices.Among these are Evolu-tion of American Poetry,Puritan-ism in American Literature,andTranscendentalism.Boys who stud- spring terms,will be allowed to by Fred Wesson take any of the offered courses. The Administration has approvedan English curriculum for 1971-72that incorporates entirely electiveprograms into both the winter andthe spring terms.The fall termwill function much as it does atpresent. # Committee Weighed Alternatives A committee headed by Mr.Charles Hohner and consisting ofthe Messrs.Donald Burdick,JamesKnox,John O'Brien and Christo-pher Dixon,representing English In general,courses in the winterterm will be directly linked to theoutline course of the fall in anattempt to provide an intensifica-tion in an area which the studenthas found attractive and wishes topursue further.The spring elect-ives will remain substantially thesame as they are now,althoughnew disciplines such as philosophyand sociology will be added. I,II,III and IV,respectively,con-sidered the opportunities and meth-ods by which the curriculum couldbecome elective.Then the EnglishDepartment produced the finalcurriculum. They based their proposal onthree essential aims.First,theremust be opportunity for the stu-dent and for the individual in-structor to determine his owncourses and experiment boldly.Second,the range of choice,how-ever,should not leave the possibil-ity of wide gaps in the student'sknowledge.Finally,the programshould be intellectually respectable. The New Haven Dance Ensemble performed and held modern dance seminars ths weekend of January 29-31. —photo by Henry Winter Art Workshops WelcomeDancers,Dramatists,Craftsmen # Outline Courses In Fall English courses in the fall termwill follow the present pattern.Freshmen will study the classicalfoundations of western culture.Sophomores and juniors will beable to choose either an Americanor a British program.If the stu-dent were to choose the Britishprogram in his sophomore year,hewould study the American programin his junior year,or vice-versa. by Steve DeWitt ## Headmaster Praises The Deerfield Festival of theArts and Crafts commenced Fridayevening,January 22,as the NewHaven Dance Ensemble presenteda modern dance concert. Thechristening of the festival markedthe climax of weeks of preparationon the part of many Deerfield stu-dents. Headmaster David Pynchon said,"The program represents thought-ful and sound directions in Englisheducation."He went on to praisethe curriculum,saying that it al-In a student's senior year he willied English Literature in the falllowed "increased flexibility andstudy the literary achievement ofare offered,among other coursesvariety.It is innovative for the de-the 20th century.Every studentpartment and represents dramaticThe English Novel,English Lovecurriculum revision."will therefore have a basic frame-Poetry,and The English Essay.In reference to a meeting lastwork in which to study in greaterdepth in the next two terms thoseSome of the courses exclusivelyNovember 19th when the wholeworks which interest him.offered to seniors are Epic TheaterEnglish Department convened todiscuss the future of the curricu-20th Century Drama,Contempor-lum,Mr.John Suitor,head of theary Poetry,and Literary Criticism.English Department said,"We re-to freshmen in the winter term are Seniors,in both the winter andally had 100%cooperation." Eralish Department Chairm John Suitor worked with the com- mittee to finalize plans for next year's electives. The following morning studentsand faculty crowded Boyden Li-brary to participate in spontaneousdemonstrations offered by thedance group.There

FAQs

What changes were made to the 1971-72 English curriculum for winter and spring terms?

The 1971-72 program incorporated fully elective options into both the winter and spring terms. Winter courses were linked directly to the fall outline course, and spring electives added new disciplines such as philosophy and sociology.

Which fall American Literature course choices were available for students?

Students taking American Literature in the fall could choose from eight options, including evolution of American poetry, Puritanism in American literature, and Transcendentalism.

Who was named Editor-In-Chief for the 1971-72 SCROLL, and who was selected as Managing Editor?

Chris Watson was named Editor-In-Chief of the 1971-72 SCROLL, and Bruce Goodwin was chosen as Managing Editor.

Sep 15, 2026

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