NOTES ON EDUCATION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 624, 29 September 1909, Page 8

NOTES ON EDUCATION.

UNIVERSITY REFORM.

[BT SOORATEB.]

. On> the. subject of university education,l in New Zealand there has appoarcd .in the columns of The Dominion during the .last two weeks a series of criticisms which, although stated from different points of . view, are., singularly unanimous in certain important. respects. ... •» Tliere aro three'elemental factors in our university system—the students,' tho-'.professors, and the governing body. "Student,"- in a letter dated September . IS, has very- clearly stated the caso for. those who look,-'to'-tho' university for adequate preparation for the.battle of life,' while no fewer than five members of the Professorial Beard of Victoria 'College .'have expressed themselves as being dissatisfied with the . present system of university ■ education. We have been, told, precisely and emphatically, by those who are fullycompeteiit to speak; that:— ' . ; ' v: ' ■ " ,1. Our university students .are not- trained, to think scientifically—that is, .oorrectly. ,2. In a-five months', session—as, at Victoria College—there: is .no. time ,for, leisured, pursuit of knowledge. All that can be. done, and ia done, is the. absorption, within a given period of a prescribed mass of facte,'to bo reproduced in examination papers in proof of a candidate's contention'that he is eligible for a decree. The, process of swallowing whole quantities of un» digested matter ana ejecting the same oy examination day is, to carry the. metaphor' a littlo further, .attended with the risk' of ■ mental. dyspepsia.:., ' 3. Our professors are fettered. The know ledgo that tho Value of their teaching will bo assessed by examiners with . whom they iirp npt in touch, whose ideals ana standards are : unknown, ..compels them to confine their work: within : certain fixed limits—prescribed by the examiners—to the end that their students will be.enabled to. accom-' plish what-is absurdly conceived to be the beall and end:all of university 6tudy—a'degree.. 4. The degree'standards of the. New' Zealand University,-based on such a system of• study as is-at.'.present in vogue, at'the.colleges, cannot bo other than- inferior' to those awarded ' to graduates of universities tfhero , the system -of education is'' framedr'npori. sounder principles and'moro correct ideals. - •5. Tho.matriculation .standard ofr.thb: New Zealand University is,too low., Plus, the initial disadvantage of a five-months' session; there "is the fact that the average student is not,'intellectually; in a 1 'fit state ..to receive and profit .®y . the .instruction'.feiven 'at- his college—two senou9 obstacles• to teaching effioiency.,. . These aro some-of-the , salient; points'upon which there .is.a concensus of. expert /opinion. Thoro. arc others, but tho'.wholo question-has' boon so elaborately reviewed that there is no need, to labour it further. • Against tho arguments adduced by the professors" and ' students, it'must be confessed that .those advanced by Mr. Joy'nty Registrar of the New Zealand University, and, presum-' ably,; the champion of. the Senato, do, not carry..conviction and- are easilv disposed of •by Mr. Gray, Princiual of -the Training Col-lege,-.who'state?,-with-emphasis, that jf- local circumstances interfere .with, the, 'degree; .standards, more- favourable circumstances should be created.' t To. lower the degree, standards to suit the circnrostarices is stepping backwards' with a- ynngeance;",'But- ,tlio. Senate is, neve-rtheless,-.'clearly 'desirous of "effecting Yeforms,- . and, curiously enongh,- is lnndcreti in its/flcsire i to;- go 'forward by the' very ' conditions which, I Professor Laby' asserted; ' would'inevitably ! block "tho way to progress— of. controlling and advisory .bodies." During the y&nv the college •councils.-and' professori3 • boards••(of- the "four .centres'-have• ©todeavquringto arrive at Mmothing like a unanimous decision upon certain ' suggestions for reform,' which were outlined by tV' Jlecess Com-mittee-of tho Senate;.and referred to them'for report All ojq agreed., that wform'js'eminently desirable, and that ecchi reform .should bo in • a'certaili direction'.. ■ But ' wion' it r.was desired. to construct; fromwhat Jwcre pTirolv academjo - resolutions' on'.' tho "major ..'pofnts, a definito scheme, ros'isnggested'by ti'e : Recess. Committee of-tho. Senate,the -advisory '.bodies failed" to .agreo. an, indication :of the policy of the.bonate on tho question'iof reform, .the suggesinous' refeTTed;tp. are'reproduced,herewith:— , .That the- B;A . and 13.Sc. Dngrco courses be divided -'into interm'ediato 'and; final courses; that the Intermediate 'Examinationbo. taken' after 'pne'year's' terms, -and include in all cases English, -or some equivalent such 'as History, and in the case,of 8.A.,' latin or' 6reek;-and that.'tho Final: Examination' should 'be ■■ taken : afte'r terms :havo.-been kept.-' ,'. : 2. BachQjor ; Th£tlth'(j :tn tormediato B;A. -course include one year courses in four subjects, as follows:—. V i English'.—(a) ;:Literature','(to; be.'defined)'; (b) ' a. short essay on some'subject arising out'of tho wbrks ,selected 'Under (a) j, (c) tho', history and' structure of the-English'language, iso far. aS it can .bo studied from selected works (AngloSaxon' will not bo Toquired); or History (a), (to- be .'defined); (b) a.'short essay .on .some subject arising -out of a. selected '.period of. History or. out of a'selected work.' ■ : Latin or Greek. • ' Euro Mathematics or.,Applied:llathematics or Physics or Chemistry ortfiotany or Zoology-or Logic, ...provided that any, .candidato who,, has Sot in - the MAtriciilation 'Examination passed in- cach of the throo subjects; 'Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry must tako Pure . Mathematics. ; ■' -: v : Any ono of tho. atovo* subjects .not already taken, or-any b'no.*of the-following subjects:— French, Gorman, 'Hobrew, Economics, Education,: Constitutional 'History, Psychology, Phy siology, Geology. : . .i-. , •: That »the. Final B.A. .should ' include .two courses, each of not less-than two -years, moro advanced,than for, the Intermediate B.AiV in two of tho subjects named heloW, and , oho year (Intermediate)' course in ia',:sttbject, not previously taken; and that the : group, of these three -subjects, should,bo .-approved, in the case of eiicli i student., by the:. Professorial', Board of .the-Affiliated College: ' i Subjects : of. the - Final'.'B;A.:Tfl,.,'-Latin;.-2, Greek; 3; .French;: i, ; German,;'. -5, .' English' ■Language land Literature;-G, .'.Hobrpvr;',.7, T3coinomics;. B,' Mental .Scienco;- !),.- History, - Constitutional History, and Jurisprudence, (two of those); -10, Mathematics. ; - v ! Eveiy;:.cahdidate:for:B.A.';-n)ust at.some timo during'his: course take a .coitrso (of -Intermediate standard at.least) -in three of, tho languages, English;' Latin, Greek,.French, German, Hebrow, or in; two of those languages aud one of. the 'following, subjectsV-Ecohomicf, History, Constitutional "History, Psychology, Logic. If Mathematics be: .tokehyfor: Final 8.A., Pure or-Applied Mathematics cannot •be chosen as the Intermediate 'subject at ;the-, same timo. . ■ That tho Intermediate B.Sc., shall- include bno year course.-; in four subjects, ;as';followr—(i.) : English or.' French: or :Gefindn,: as:for. Inter-mediate-8.-A. (ii.) Pure Mathematics or. A'p-°'plied.-Mathematics -or Chemistry or.. Physics, 'provided that any candidate who has'hot in .the Matriculation Examination -passed' in l each . of. the .three 'subjects, .Arithmetic, . Algebra, and Geometry, ,must take ,Pure "Mathematics, (iii.) ■jViiy one,, of, the .subjects in Jii.) not alteady, ,takcni or Biitany or -Zoology *0r Physiology or •Geology/.- (iv.). Any .one. of; the' subjects in (ii.) :or (iii.) 1 ' not 'already taken, .or "Economics or Education, or -Elementary Psychology .'or Logic.. ; That' the-.'Final .'B.Sc;'-i'Shall,. -include'. 'two 'courses, each' of 1 not less than two years; more advancedthan ■ for' the'- Intermediate.. 8.5 c. ,; in twoiof, the. subjects named below, and one oneyear' (Intermediate): course: in,^(ii-.) i or" (iii.) of the Intermediate subjects not already, taken; and-that tho:group of.': these- three subjects should be approvcd in:the case of each student by the Protcssorial Board. , ; ' i • Subjects of the-Final- B.Sc.r-Mathematics (Pure and Applied), Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, Physiology, Geology, Mental Science, Economics. .". ' ' Every candidate.for B.Sc. must at somp'timo dsiring : his .course '-tako. a course -,(of„ Intermediate staudaur.ftt'. least) in not,.less' than three of'the subjects:—Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics;. Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology,' Physiology,'.: Geology...: If; Mathematics • be one of the subjects; taken' for Final .B.Sc., Pure Mathematics '-;or Applied- . Mathematics cannot, bo chosen: as the • Intermediate': subject at'-.the same , tjino;;., ' .' . > \