OPINION
Friday, May 30, 1986

Page 6

The MichiganDaily

Vol. XCVI, No. 4-S
96 Years of Editorial Freedom
Unsigned editorials represent the majority views of the Daily's Editorial Board
Cartoons and signed editorials do not necessarily reflect the Daily's opinion.
The write way
N RESPONSE TO the poor quality least one course per year in which
of student writing in the LSA, the LSA they would be asked to do a
curriculum committee has begun an significant amount of writing. These
evaluation of the introductory com- courses should be offered in various
postion program. While there is room departments, as the junior-senior
for improvement in that program, writing requirement courses are
more emphasis must be placed on currently.
writing throughout college. While the University will face
LSA students are currently severe money constraints in coming
required to take only one semester of years, such improvements would not
introductory composition and one require much additional funding. An
junior-senior writing course. Mean- improvement of existing courses and
while, there are a significant number a greater commitment from the
of 400-level courses tht a student can faculty is all that's necessary. It
slip through without having to turn in takes more time to give students
a paper. feedback on their writing than to
Writing is an art that can only be process a multiple-choice exam, but
mastered through practice. It is also writing a paper teaches a student
one of the most important skills that a much more about writing than does a
student can obtain and is a central regurgitation of facts learned in
part of a liberal arts education. class.
Faculty complaints about student The next step that the University
writing in upper-level courses are administration is planning to under-
evidence that the two semesters of take is a survey of faculty opinion on
composition that are now required the role of writing in LSA. It is hoped
are insufficient. that faculty members will realize that
There are alternatives to simply helping students develop their writing
mandating more courses in English. skills is an intregal part of their
Students should be required to take at responsibilities as educators.
Upgrade-education

LETTERS:

Theater boycott urged

Tothe Daily:ant scenes in thenmovie
Not realizing it was a flashed before us unheard.
Kerasotes-owned theater, Finally, several of us marched
went to the Campus Theatre out of the theater in search of
last Tuesday to view "Sweet someone in charge. No one
Liberty," the new Alan Alda was to be found in the lobby.
film. The action in the theatre "Privte"A the oof thesi
turned out to be more enter- a
taining than the movie. stairs, we found the projection
Things started smoothly: room and the one person
we purchased tickets,mtook ou working there. Hendidn'tap-
seats, and began to enjoy the pear to be working on the
film. However, approximately projector, he wasstanding
one third of the way through, idle smoking a cigarette.
the soundtrack went on th' When we questioned him, he
blink. The sound wasn't com- said the problem was with the
pletely gone, possibly if we'd projector and that he was
all huddled around the trying to get ahold of the
speakers we could ahve general manager.
deciphered it. Well, it was only No sound. A projectionist
shout two minutes' worth of that can't work the back-up
lines-no big deal, right? system. No general manager.
No big deal - until it hap-. No apologies. We weren't
pened again! Silence, like a happy campers.
cancer, grows ... About fif- Some of us retook our seats
teen minutes later, the sound and waited. Some paced inthe
was completely lost. Justified lobby. The manager finally
hfarrived. He started issueing
the audience. Minutes passed. free passes so that we could
tht adiee Mite pr-d return to one of his theatres
What appeared to be impor- and risk a rerun of the night's

actions. No thanks - I'd really
rather have my money back.
As he wrote outamy pass, I
asked him about the
problem - "Don't you have
a back-up system?" His reply
was that, yes, they dobut sin-
ce we all "berged" up front so
quickly they didn't have time
to deal with it. Sorry, bud. You
weren't even to be found twen-
ty minutes earlier when it all
began!
"Sweet Liberty" wasn't so
good that I feel a need to see
its end. I feel agreater need to
see the rehabilitation of the
Kerasotes management. In
allowing the popcorn people to
run the projectors, Kerasotes
lost more than a few qualified
technicians. They lost my
business and probably that of
many others present that
night. I urge everyone to
refrain from supporting the
Campus, State, and Wayside
theaters until this ineptness it
corrected.
-Shawn A. Wistrom
May 28

IT SOUNDS a little screwy, but
teachers may soon be preparing for
their own exams.
A teacher certification system,
developed by the New York Carnegie
Forum of Education and Economy,
could be a significant step towards
upgrading the quality of education in
this country.
The plan, scheduled to go into effect
in June 1987, outlines a voluntary
national system to certify primary
and high school teachers. Reform
measures that focus on teachers, as
well as students are obvious but long-
awaited developments for education.
The plan is part of a report that also
addresses the need to improve the
teaching environment. Giving
teachers more aides and clerical
workers to lessen their ad-
ministrative burdens are among the

propositions, along with suggestions
that teachers be given more control
over curriculums and book selec-
tions.
These proposals indicate that
business and political leaders have
identified some of the basic
weaknesses in the educational
system. Plans to increase teachers' salaries
also suggest that are those who
have finally recognized the need to at-
tract better qualified people into the
teaching profession.
The reforms outlined in the Car-
negie Foundation's report are en-
couraging, but should represent only
the beginning of a more thorough
evaluation of the educational system.
A look at the two most important
elements - teachers and students
will be a good place to start.

We encourage our readers to use this space to
discuss and respond to issues of their concern.
Whether those topics cover University, Ann Arbor
community, state, national, or international issues
in a straightforward or unconventional manner, we
feel such a dialogue is a crucial function of the
Daily.
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