HIGHER EDUCATION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 613, 16 September 1909, Page 8

HIGHER EDUCATION.

; OBSERVATIONS IN AUSTRALIA. INTERVIEW WITH MR. H. F. VON ... HAAST THE UNIVERSITY AND THE ' PEOPLE. Mr. H. P. von Hnast, who is a member- of the Victoria College, Council, and also of tho Senate, of tho Univorsity of No,w Zealand, made iutjuiriia into educational matters in Sydney, Melbourne,' and Adelaide during his - recent visit to '.Australia. In Melbourne /University affairs were, proceeding qnietly, but'the' Government,''.at, the' instigation vof .Mr. Thomas Bent, had plaood the university on a.-6ound financial basis. 'Mr. von llaast • questioned Protessor Lyle,; Protessor o£ Physics at the Melbourne University, as. to. tlie , amount'required, to. properly, equip .a'Chair of' Physics, which it is 'proposed to provide' at . Victoria College. The cost was estimated by Professor Lylo ■at v abjut .£10(H), which is. the amount wnich it is understood the- Victoria College Council is prepared to.spend. \ A Centralised University. . In Sydney. Mr. von Haast found the university :very much-in the publlc;eye,:.oWing.to a Bui which had just been brought forward by the Premier, Mr. Wodo, in the State Parliament., ■ In going over .Sydney University, observing its magnificent buildings and fine 'scientific equipment, and meeting with professors ( arid students, the New Zealander was imipressed with the advantages,derived from.'haviin'g .one central educational' organisation,'.stead of, .as in. this .country, an institution, 'divided .inti four colleges.That there was howover'another . side to the shield 'was. showh by a discussion whioh ho found in progress. Both in. the State Parliament .and in letters ,to thp. newspapers.. the complaint was;made that the/iuiiversitywas only .the;university/of Sydney, and not, as it'should.be, the' university .of /New. South Wales. It was .declared ;to be 'too centralised, and confined too much, -to, a limited,'class, -. and '-'ways" and ■ means '-were. being' discussed for. bringing tho ' university ' into closet. touch with the people. Some of " the speakers in the House' advised the abolition of fees in order that all' classes might: be > able to enjoy ; the' benefits of; university • education; fibers thought; that it was'a'mistake for the nftte'-jtb bo elected by. graduates ::only,' and at' with: tho. objcct of bringing the university closer. touch- with the State,' there should bo' representatives' of the Government, chambers of commerce,' manufacturing - and otljier 1 . interests. on ■ the oontrolling body.' It' Wits.argu&Fthat'.by- this means new'-and more advanced, id£as would. bo brought to .bear upon thel' university "training.., Other speakers: complained that tho cmdoivment of £10,000 was absolutely.inadequate. - ..; v : I /v University 8i11..;',; .'/■ ■ Tho Bill -which is before, the State ment provides !a? ( follows (1) ' The' increase of tho statutory endowment by .£IO,OOO annually, to be appropriated in the following, manner:— Annual /costs'; of »hew ; Chairs; of Agriculture and t Veterinary;Science'-ri£sooo,' compensation for reduction',N>f : fees,'i'3soo, provision of scientific apparatus -£2500: (3) Substitution for. life tenure, : of. members ■, of the Senate. of an eight years' tenure, four, members retiring at a time. (3). Voting.by letter to be confined to' graduates, in tho State. (4) All graduates 21 years of age,, to 'have I 'the; franchise; instead ,of graduates , of three' yearsV 'standing, ' or ,who. have taken their M.A. degree. -■ "' ",'i! Radical Recommendations. Mr. P. Boardi Under-Secretary and Director Df. Education, <has furnished ,a. report to the Legislative -Assembly based ; upon observations, of-' Ajnorican methods.' -Tho American' 'univer-i sifyii'hovstatcs,' does ' not wait for ■'those to climb it who need its help.itgois out. to meet 'them. • Behind the work of the institution'"is the idea ofi'making the student a capable- contributor.:,!toK the ; prosperity, of tho State.?'' •' The: highest "education, Mr'. Board •' be.npt';;th'at'jwliich enables the student to enjoy,, his-books, in the armchair of, his -leisured.-' hours,', but rather' that. which/best -enables him'to, render. service by doing something And he.;asks, /Why'.'may..not.a university dombine in, all/ itsoutput a','public;'. ser,viccableness; with broad, rang-e. of. intellectual .vision ?" Mr.' Board; ad-.. University ..should' -bo mado: ; less- Icentrajised and - pore utilitarian,' After- two/years",, training the' student :' should : bo allowed' to 'specialise towards his life work. Collegiate ;.high', schools .should be'established,'' ivhere, country,'students, might take' one' or ,two' yMrs';of..''.wrk'. , .eqtiivalent''-to' the,-first year's ivork; at - -the' university, proceeding 'to the u'ni-' rersijy ,for. completion of - ,his course..; Provision- should •bo - made for free university tuiaoo;.- ..There; te' ico-ordinatioh v of- the mivoreityVwith the secondary schools,' and in-' iteadf.'of,. an' entrance .eiamiiiation, four : years'. ;61id,;work;at: a; school/should admit i, student .'of tho university. ' Heal university intension should be provided for those who desire to learn,-and not a little - "intellectual atillation." v University, correspondence classes might.bo formed,, with,groups for study, which would bo periodically visited by the Jectureriiwiharge.. .Provision might -, also bo made for the 5 further .'teaohing of - "self-educated"!: per- : idns,' arid ''for the- supply/of, printed m'atonals to ..debating,sbiueties, so ;■ as to lead to;the'dis- ; jussion 'of -'subjects -having ..a-'.direct - bearing apon questions of tho day. : 'r ' Practical Economics. ,'Mr; yon Haaste was much impressed l bv tho ivork-which.-is being done by Mr. K. P. Irvine, ivho 'is .a":-graduate'. df. Canterbury College, lecturor ;;oh;; economics %at Sydney University. Kis classes .are, attended'not, merely.: by,-degree studons; bit/by •'£/ large proportion :of keen' business' men -.who'; are . interested; in ■ the theory, is -well .'as ipractice,, of business, j 'With the -co-'-jperation -oi employers, '. his' . students - .'inspect leading, factories, -industries, :'and markets, and ivrito .essays-.and .hold 'discue'sions on the re-' mlts ;of ' theirvexaminatiohsi' Members '.of the jlassi'ihave .taken' upon themselves the. investi-;ation-of/various , .economic subjects; for eximple, 'one of: them has 'investigated ■ - the qnestion .of .female - labour;; in New ' South ;. Wales, : ind'another, has/been' facts about land tenures. .Speculation and'the influence of trusts are other subjects, dealt with .in this practical'mode;of .teaching 'economics. .'.