To the editor: My husband, my son and I are all UCLA alumni (lessons of 1970, 1979 and 2010) below the quarter system (“UC considers adopting semester system in any respect faculties,” July 1). We additionally all attended graduate applications that used the semester system.
All of us most well-liked the quarter system. The faster tempo discouraged procrastination, forcing us to remain organized and liable for finishing assignments on time. This can be a beneficial life lesson, as all of us found in our careers in enterprise, schooling and legislation. The semester system, however, led to tutorial lethargy that served nobody properly.
As an educator myself, I dispute the declare quoted within the article that textbooks organized in 15-20 chapters fairly than 10 ought to influence the UC determination. Lecturers have to determine construction their lessons. Textbooks are merely instruments.
One level not raised within the article: The price to a pupil, in {dollars} and in time, is much less for 1 / 4 than for a semester. If well being or different components drive college students to withdraw for 1 / 4, or so as to add an additional quarter to their time in faculty, the quarter system provides extra flexibility.
I sincerely hope that the UC system doesn’t remove the quarter system, which has labored properly for thus many people.
Robin Winston, Culver Metropolis