NOTES ON EDUCATION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 675, 27 November 1909, Page 7

NOTES ON EDUCATION.

. . [Br Soonms.]. . Not. very .long ago, the question of univorsity reform , was, extensively discussed in the columns of The Dominion, and these wero obtained from members of : tho professorial staff of Victoria College some smking statements of opinion—adverse l opinion—in tho present university system. On the one hand, a singular concensus of opinion was expressed by tho professors on tho point that the system stood in urgent need of amendment, and, on the other hand,' a very lucid and complete review; of tho. case, for tho present system from Mr. J. ,W. Joyiit, Eegistrar of tho Now. Zealand University. A fresh light has since been thrown on the .position by a reference, to tho New. Zealand University which appears, in the annual report of the Minister for Education (Hon. ,G. Fowlds). Tho reference is'' of somo interest, as defining the Departmental state of mind on the subject. According to. the report, the four, chief functions of . a university may. bo said to' be: (1) To provide higher cduca.tion for those who have > passed beyond tho. standard of. tho secondary; schools; (2) To train its students for their profes- . sional work; : ■ - (3) To be the home of sound learning, whete knowledge .is increased, and, research., is encouraged—and so to bn an active agent in aiding the progress and,in. raising the ' V ' standard of culture of. the community; (4) To confer degrees as ovidenco of the completion. of; a "course, of higher'education, or of professional courses, or in recognition Of. research-work or ( 6f. definitO contribution to human . knowledge vor thought. ■.: '. : '. • . Zealand' tlte actual task of providing higher and professional education (1) and (2), is undertaken mainly by the university colleges and other institutions named below; but tho university exercises most important functions in Regard to■ these-matters inasmuch as■ the recognition ,of : the institution themselves, the conditions as:. 10. study, tho: keeping of- terms,' and so, forth, the requirements.of. the degree examinations, • the appointment, of examiners, tho. conferring,, of. degrees, ..the • awarding-'- of scholarships .and prizes,, : and.many similar matters are v dealt with, .by tho university itself, acting through' 'tho 'Sen- : ate, or through the Chancellor as the reprcsentatiyo "of .the .Spnate.. l At :tho outset,. tho found it necessary to employ outside.examiners for its degree examin'ations, ; and in the main this'. policy is still continued,, with . the. consequenco that tho collcgos, which are the . actual teaohing bbdiOs— .having.' tho. progTamme: of. work . determined very strictly, by :the statutes of the University,ana .the, examination tests of the bulk of. their work /conducted by. examiners .in Great Biitain—possess very little real freedom in 'teach,»g». «®d very littlo.power to. direct or modify the character of the'work of their students." ' -fh® begiiinihg ;of; : research -work' is providedfor in' ,tho. conditions attached to, certain - of' tho higher .degrees;, but.so far not much' has been doiie' to., encourage. advanced research; probably the conditions: have not been altogether lavourable to it.

; In twp of the Univorsity colleges, the lectures are delivered mainly, but not, entirely, V jh the evening; in .the other two most l of. this work is done during the day; so that in the former institutions tho students are at liborty to follow other occupations, and a largo ■ proportion _of them actually: do so. Whilo this fact no doubt' increases the dumber ' of'students.' 1 its tendency is to bring down tho standard'of the work accomplished;! as far as this-holders of Univorsity scholarships aro concerned; a recent decision of the Senate will , render , this impossible in future. The raising of . the standard; of matriculation, and the acceptance of evidence of the satisfactory completion of a four-yedrs; secondary courso as,: a qualification ■ for. admission to the 'Universitv would also -make-, it.easier/for.'tho' colleges' to raise-their' standard ;.work. ' At tho present timo proposals in reference : to tho,modification;of- the course ■ degrees of Bachelor and Bachelor ol Scienco aro under consideration, ihaving been, referred to the Univorsity' colleges for report ' and - suggestions.' In -'regard to the preparation of students for professions, tho University, and the several cOIV leges have done valuable ,work, and. through their ,means many of the lawyers, doctors, and teachers of-tho Dominion have received the greater part of. thoir training.' : ; ■.. ■

■ Among the subjects that will ba considered at the annual meeting of the Now. Zealand Edncationnl Institute;to bo. held' in Welling, con during the first week of January'next, is . tho proposal to\establish-a Botiovolent Fund in connection ..The proposed • regulations under which'tho fund will be edr*ernea are as follow °- 1. The benevolent fund shall consist of any surplus- from the legal assistance 'fund over and. above the sum of JSIOOO, and 6f. any sum Or sUMs that- may bo votsd from the ordinary the 'annual meeting of th6,institute. : •2.* The object' of the benevolent fund shall .bo •to afford assistance, to teachers -or their dependents ..who -are. in necessitous circumstances. . •* . ■ ®: The teacher in- connection with wiom an appeal is mr.do must have been a member of ■ a'. Institiito.for: at least ton yfcars prior to ths date of such application. ;,, , . , / ,i. Every; appeal. for assistance' from the fiirid shall be, made through and bo recommended by ino local district institute. 1 ' v 5-. 'fj l ® f'lncl shall bo administered by thd 'executive of the New Zealand Educational 111stitute. . '. _P- , Th o fund shall. bo held by the' Public Trustee. Ten years ago .the, balance to the credit of the.lesal defence fund stood at about ,£BOO and at the ond of the present vear. the same fund will be in credit by over '<£1000. •