"If a student is to learn more about the 'game of learning,' he must have time to himself - time in which to wonder, to speculate, to talk with his fellow students...time for idle, aimless, undirected reading...time, perhaps, to go to the library to prove that a teacher was wrong and, perhaps, to find that he himself was wrong."
With these words, President Micheels set the tone for "SWEET Week" (an acronym standing for Students' Week Encourages Enlightened Thinking), an experimental period for Stout students to pursue their own interests in whatever areas they saw fit. March 15-23, 1970, was set aside for a strikingly new approach to education. It was a period during which a new focus was placed on education - a focus that allowed each student to become responsible for his own learning.
During the week, classes were dismissed, textbook assignments were eliminated and formal testing was waived. University facilities were available upon request but the initiative was left to the students.
Students were responsible for designing their own projects and making the necessary arrangements to carry out these projects, both on and off campus. Faculty members were available for assistance.
In speaking with students, Micheels put it this way: "This will be
an experiment in which you students have primary responsibility for determining
the learning experiences you wish to undertake. This will be your 'baby'
- your 'happening.'"
Source: Interpreting the Dream - A
Stout History
