Problems Of Over-large Sociology Classes

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31677, 13 May 1968, Page 12

Problems Of Over-large Sociology Classes

“When 1 stand before a very large class in the university hall to give a lecture, 1 sometimes wonder whether I should ask them to vote for me or make a decision for Christ,” said Mr R. H. Thompson, reader of sociology at the University of Canterbury, on Friday. Mr Thompson said he had recently gone to the United States and England partly to find out whether any solution had been found to the problems of teaching sociology to classes up to 400, but his quest was fruitless. Sociology, perhaps more than most other subjects, required “vital involvement in social situations and political problems," Mr Thompson said. Students should be “doing instead of listening." This was not possible in classes of hundreds Ideally, groups should be no bigger than 20. Mr Thompson said he marvelled that sociology students in Canterbury and overseas could endure the handicaps of huge classes and still pass examinations.

Mr Thompson said these students ought to be able to go out and study social issues from "all-white ’ 1 Blacks" to the effects of road widening: to hunt up data together: and, to discuss it in intimate groups. They tried to do this, but with group after group at the same task, the position became impossible. “I found comfort in sharing a common dilemma, rather than a solution to a problem which has become criti-

cal the world over,” said Mr Thompson. While overseas, Mr Thompson attended the East Asia Christian Council assembly in Thailand, and also spent some time teaching sociology in the Pacific Theology College at Suva. Mr Thompson said that as the Pacific islands came out of isolation, coped with the population explosion, and the working out of their traditional economic resources, the churches faced new demands. “No theological college can ignore the social context in which the churches seek to understand their role and responsibility,” he said.