THE UNIVERSITY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1344, 23 January 1912, Page 6

THE UNIVERSITY.

the meeting of the senate. SECOND DAY. CHANCELLOR'S KIOPOIiT COMBS n\ The. annual meeting of the Senate of the I'hiversity of New Zealand was rc- ■ sinned at Victoria - College yesterday morning, the Chancellor (Sir Robert Stout I presiding. ' Consideration of Ihe Chancellor's report was made t.lic first order of thu day, and . dispiisscd item by item. Tho majority of ' the>e were referred, willi6ut debitle, io 1 the Senate Cmnmittei'S. for report later 1 in the session, when tlicy.will.no doubt ■ lie formally discussed. The "suspended" • question'of the establishment of .a Cou- ■ servatorinm of .Music—discussed last year ; —was referred to the I'ecess Committee of l the Senate, after a short, discussion of an explanatory nature. Questions relating to tho jnaintainiug of a uniform standard in . examinations, and tho desirableness of enforcing the principio that candidates for degrees should offer tho subjects in I which thev had properly qualified in the , college terms t examinations, evoked interesting discussions. I The most important debate of the day, i however, centred on the question of re- ; placing tho present system of external ' examinations by a system of examinations conducted by examiners appointed within I the Dominion. Mr. .Jas. Allen. M.P., introduced the • subject, at the afternoon sitting, in a : motion involving a preliminary step in ( that direction, viz.—that at least some of the. examiners should be appointed in , New Zealand. The discussion which fol- , lowed was interesting and animated, and ■ the result amounted to the shelving of the question for another year. The Semite reaffirmed tlie question, reJP' v ' e d upon at tho last annual meeting, that the necessary powers should be sought from Parliament with regard' to [ the conferring of diplomas in public ne*ilrn. No action was taken with regard to tlie request of the Taranaki Education Board that the compulsory subjects of the Lntrance Scholarship and Matriculation fvxanmirition. should be different for those who wished to take up a scienco course, and for those who wished to take up an arts co.ursc in the university. The Chancellor pointed out that, the'request amounted to a suggestion that the univer-sity-sho'uld revert-to a system which was . abolished, about twenty years ago. Mr: H. F:' Von'Haast'and tlie Rev." W A. hvans (members of the Victoria Colleß ° Council, who are about to visit Great Britain), Mr. J. W. Joynt m London tor the New Zealand Univer- ■ Pr , of<!SSOT Chilton, rf Canterbury College (at present in England) wero appointed to represent the university at tho. Imperial University-, Conferenco' in [ London. At 5.30 p.m. tho Senate adjourned till ; 10 o clock this morning. ' CHAIR OF MUSIC. SUGGESTED CONSERYATOR-lUM IN - AUCKLAND. ' i.ii Du^(ns discussions of the .report, 3 >09 Chancellor referred to certain ctirre--3 spondeiico which had taken place between " Universities of' New Zealand anil Mel- • bourne on the subject .of, an Australasian " agreement regarding music examinations, r I he.. Australian' Universities were already ) in agreement, and the New Zealand UnJ- - yereity had been approached with rc-spect s to the same question. It had been expect- . Ed that a representative of the Melbourne University would have been m-csent at tho meeting of tho New Zealand Senate, but, unfortunately, he would be unable to "attend, lie understood that the Government I , co, «i c,€rcd tllc question of assisting the Auckland University College with re- , gard to the establishment of a Conserva- ' torium of Music, with a Univorsity Chair, , but nothing definite had been arranged. It was useless having a conference on tho • subject until there was something definite to go upon. I o L IT -i < ? eo ' H °£ben (Inspector-General of schools) said that the assistance of tho ■ Government in this particular matter was - dependent upon the recognition which the ii\ verel ' : -' was prepared to extend j to the conservatorium. Tlie sum required I?* 3 , \ L ver ?, ,argo one > - antl He did not . think that the Government would be prepared to assent to such a proposition at ) present.' His opinion was that the Senate should do nothing at present. Mr. L. Cohen (one of the represents nves of the Wellington District Court of I V, 01 ?r oCation ) that the visit of the Melbourne I'uivei-sity's representative j (Mr. lhompson) had been arranged under a misconception of the actual posi- | ' 10n -. The Auckland School t.f Music was sufficiently removed trom the ' statiis of a dignified Conseiratoriuui of • Music- to render impossible ajiy sngges- • Hon that an agreement with the Austra- ' liaii Universities could be arrived at. Mr. Thompson was asked to define what he considered to be the minimum' design 1 for a coiiservatorium which could be admitted to' sii'ch a partnership in music es- ; animations as had Ijeen talked- of. suid ;■ that' minimum, it had been pointed out, [ involved a verj-. large expenditure of ; money. He agreed' with Mr. Hogben's • view of the. situation. Politics in New Zealand were rather in the melting pot at present, and it might bo as well to wait.and see who. reallv was Minister for Education in New Zealand. Dr. 'M'Dowell (Auckland) bespoke the sympathy of the Senate for the Auckland University College in the matter of- a conservatorium, with a university, status. They had a very suitable building in Auckland. He thought that the Senate might have a formal report prepared' by an expert—either Mt. Thompson or someone else.' The amount required would be from. J22000 to ,£3OOO for the'first year, with a diminishing subsidy'in successive-years. He moved that tlie question be referred to the Music Commitlee. This was agreed to.' , LONDON UNIVERSITY. TO. RECOGNISE LOCAL MATRICULATION. Replying to a resolution of the Senate, passed at the_- previous annual meeting, the Loudon University Senate wrote as follows "The Matriculation Board at their meeting on May 2G considered th# application of the University ol New Zealand for the recognition of their" matriculation examination as exempting from the matriculation ' of this L'niversity. In accordance, with their usual practice they direct us to request you to bo so good as to forward foT tlio inspection of the referee, whom they have appointed, copies of the regulations, examination papers, and candidates' answers thereto. These latter should contain specimens in every subject which has just passed, and which has jusl failed, in order that the standard of tho requirements for a pass may lie ascertained." It was decided to Mipply the data as suggested, and a committee was appointed to'mako a-se.lection of answers. A DESIRABLE REFORM. TERMS. SUBJECT'S, AND DEGREES.. On. the statutory relationship of college terms examinations to. degree subjects, the Professorial' Board of Victoria College, represented by . Professor ,T. Rankino Brown, submitted the following recommendation "That tho Senate be recommended, to add the following to'tho statutes of the lI.A. and B.Sc. degrees: 'No candidate for the degree shall be allowed to sit in any. subject unless lie has passed the College examination in that subject at a standard equivalent' lo that of the University examination in the subject,'" Professor ,T. R. Brown said that what was wanted was statutory power lo enforce what the existing stature intended. Professur .1. Macmillan Uruwn (Canlerliurv). remarked that for years Canterbury College had been enforcing, the statute in • terms of t.ho recommendation, and it was ■ strange if it was only-now discovered 'that . ils action, had been ultra vires. -If that were'so,'l lie Senate should sec thai, matters, wore put right. The affiliated colleges should work unwjun.l terms, nud'ho'wwof Uiol ail four should ynsorve a.

uniform method of conducting tlio term examinations. II one college J;tjrl it. (low IIki! throc Hihierts >lioul<l be taken to "terms." all should do likewise. Tli principle was llinl: no student should a lor hin degree in any subject for wliic he had not kept (lie required tei'ins at hi college. 11; would appear from tho n commendation of Victoria . College tlia this principle had lieeii departed from. Mr. .la.s. Allen, M.l'. (Otago I'niversit Council? said .Hint (lie evidence brougii hpi'ore the Kducation Com in it too of l'ai 1 in nieiil iliselosed irregularities whic made some amendment of the Btatut desirable. /Mr. 11. V. Von IJaast agreed.'I'lio chancellor {Sir Robert Stout) r< marked that/he felt somewhat surprise thai Victoria College should offer a su; gestion that tho Senate should limit th curriculum. "No! no!" dissented several senators. At any rate, continued the Chaneelloi it was contrary to all that he had hear °f I j>e Victoria College professors, wh didn t want the iron rule of tho uriive] sity, whirl I interfered .with their libert; I'rotessor P. D. Brown. (Auckland) sai that the custom of taking four subject tor the terms examinations gave cand dates for tho degree a liberty which wr not, in accordance with the intention c two statute. "That is just, the point," said Professc ■'• R..Brown, who added that.lie did nc propose to argue the contentions of th Chancellor. It was perfectly compete! tor the Senate to regulate its degree e: aininations in the mauner suggested, an the result would be a moro logical rek tioiiship between the college examination and the degree examinations. Dr. Fitchett (Wellington) remarkec with some sarcasm, that the proposal c Victoria College amounted to a self-den; ing ordinance. He did not see how tfi Senate could dictate to the colleges in th: way. Professor .T, R. Brown explained the the suggested amendment would prevent student from presenting himself for ei animation in degreo Latin when he ha only kept the terms in junior Latin. 'l'ho Rev. A. Cameron suggested a ri ferenec of tho question to the professorit boards. ill*. L. Cohen (Wellington) remarke that if it were correct, as had been state< that students had sat for degreo examim tions when they had . not fulfilled thei obligations with respect to terms examim tions "It- is quite correct," said Professc J. R. Brown. "Then it is a gross invasion of the la of the university," said Mr. Cohen, wh went on to describe the system undt which Canterbury College had, in th past, conducted its terms examination Canterbury College had frequently pt down. brilliant students because thei terms examination work was below the r< quired standard, and that standard, 1 pointed out, was as high, if not highe: than tho degreo standard. Professor Hight (Canterbury) believe that the Senate considered the action ( Canterbury' College in that respect I have been ultra, vires. It was a fact thr a degree candidate who failed ill , ,h examination could, after, say,-a.cessatio of work, present himself in iresh subject in which ho had not kept terms, at h college. Professor Shand (Dunedin) supportc the recommendation, which was final] referred to the Authors and Periods Con uiittee, in au amended form, as follows "No candidate shall bo allowed to sit. in any subject unless he has passed the college examination in that subject 'at a corresponding stage. 1 " CANDIDATES' PAPERS. TEE TEDIUM OF MARKING. The question of maintaining a desi able uniformity in the standard of tl matriculation examination was-opened up by tho following-resolution, tabled by the Professorial Board of Victoria College:-^-"That the Senate be rccomniendcd to devise some iueans of associating professors .with the matriculation examination without necrssarily requiring from them the labour of reading candidates' answers in large numbers. That this object would be attained by appointing in the case of each subject a professor who would bo mainly responsible for the character and standard of the examination, and who would act as consultant in the rovision of the papers. That such a change could bo mado without increase of expenditure since the fee to the professorial examiner noed only be a small one." Professor J. Rankine Brown (Victoria College) said that the recommendation of his board simply involved the adoption of the procedure which had been in vogue elsewhere for several years past. It would relievo the professor appointed to supervise the work of a great deal of the tedium attached to the marking of candidates' papers, and thoso who were responsible for tho marking would be set a standard by his presence as supervisor and reviewer. It would be a desirable training for junior examiners. Mr. Oreo. Hogben (Education Departs meat) approved of tho principle, but was not prepared to support it. Sooner or later, however, tho Sonata would be required to examino the question closely, tor it was important tnat precautions should be taken to maintain the standard of tho test. Professor M'Millan Brown (Canterbury) said that he welcomed any _ suggestion which involved the maintaining: of a uniform standard in the matriculation testf His own idea had been that two examiners might be appointed for each subject—a senior and a junior— and that the junior examiner in one year should be the senior examiner tho following year, when he would be associated with a new junior examiner. -The Senate took no action, and tho matter 'was shelved for the present. THE EXAMINATION FETISH. NOTES ON YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS. ■ (Contributed by a Sub-committee of tho . University Reform Association.) - The one thing more apparent than any other throughout yesterday's deliberations was tho lact that the Senate expresses all education in terms of examination. It is wedded to the conception that examination requirements can regulate nil things educational—which is an exploded fallacy in every other country in tht world. Being, as the Chancellor said in so "many words, a' body that exists to conduct tho examinations for teaching institutions with which it has no other relation, it is not surprising to find it as a body interested only in the conduct of examinations and in trivialities related thereto—such as tho refunding or crediting of examination fees, and the use of a typewriter by a candidate with writer's cramp. The fact that "university work has been well maintained in the Dominion" is deduced from the number of candidates for tho entrance and degree examinations. An effort by professorial boards to; get tho maximum of educational valuo out of the relation between college examination and university examination was used as a peg upon which to hang a gibe at the reformers, because interpreted examinationally it. had tho superficial appearance of putting further limitation upon the powers of professors— whereas the boards are really seeking fuller power in making students satisfy tile present degree requirements in their true educational meaning. The same point called forth, irrelevantly, an eloquent speech upon the iniquity of a college not bringing its educational work to a climax in a single examination at the end of the year, tho speaker apparently not realising that- the statute, on, keeping terms at an affiliated college refers to "its. annual examination,' and leaves -tho definition of that, examination to tho college itself. The hoight oi' disingenuousnoss was attained by this speaker when he first remarked that he was sure no one of our colleges would be. thus guilty and then indignantly replied to an interruption that he was assured that it was so in one of the colleges. The. anticipated discussion of tho degree examination system had a long innings without appreciable result. There is still between tho-two uses of (he term "external" in this connection —external to New Zealand, and external to the colleges; and there is disposition to identify the standard of education with the standard of examination. The reformers a.re indebted to Professor J. 1!. Brown for his eloquent protest against an only too apparent attitude of pettiness towards the professors—a protest which immediately raised tho whole discussion to a higher level: to Mr. Cohen, for his remark that if. the students do good work at'tvr they go out into the world that is all that can be wishod for; to Dr. M'Dowell, for a. lucid statement; of the caso for t.hn present system ; and to Mr. von Haast for magics tho matter to a clear-cut

s issue between a system in which the proi lessors aro examiners and any other sysr torn to be described as "external." Pro--0 fussor J. M! Brown, in his anxiety to t exclude the professors, got a ))lirase added J to Sir. Allen's motion, which had the s ludicrous ell'ect of eliminating almost ■ every couceivablo person available in New t Zealand; as someone suggested, the logical corollary of hi.s view would bo the ex- ? elusion of all teachers of the subject in J'mgland from the exauiiuership. Tho (/hancellor adduced-agaiu the c«ise of Oxe ford and Cambridge, a most unfair comparison, because these universities have a great corporation of teachers' in - the - n ""if 1 <me another, who aro . able to elect their examiners from among . themselves, and sit them aside for that 1 work alone during their period of exaniinerslup. Tile Chancellor does not seem to realise that the. college lecturers in ', !, 01 an d Cambridge correspond in J status to our professors, their term pro--0 i°L a moro transcendental value; and that the term "coach" has there a ■. Untquo and highly honourable meaning, d anrnto among the coaches most clo&ely s identified with the teaching work of these universities. The Chancellor also pers sisten.tly confuses the systems of entrance f examination and-of-degree- examination in tho Scottish Universities. It is in the r former that t-be professor may properly ,t be described as on a board of examiners, 0 and it is only in this examination that t there is unification of the four universities, which is really an aspect of llhe unid fioation of school education under the Scotch Education Department. In tho a degreo examinations there is no suggestion of a tendency to unification; and in I, each subject the professor is tho dominf ating influence in the examination. '- Tho case of the University of Wales e is the most relevant to the discussion, s There, in each subject, three professors (one from each of the university colleges) t and an assessor constitute the Board of a Examiners: the assessor having the power of veto. This is an examination system d with which the Reform Association would be content; and the obvious course for i- the Sonata is to ask the Professorial Con--1 ference, which seems imminent, to report on this question. d Even in examination matters the Senate is not familiar' with tho situation. It failed to grasp the meaning of a resor lution suggesting a means by which it l - might free some of the best thinkers in this country from the brain-damaging r drudgery of reading hundreds of examination answers, or pret tho services of others who have gained the experience, 0 which is certainly to be had by that r drudgery, and now refuse to do more of 0 it than is absolutely necessary; Again, many of its members are plainly; ignorant J; of how it performs its most important _ function of appointing Home examiners. And the appointment of examiners for , tho Bowen and Haydon University prizes ' was made in a very casual way from j among its own members. r A statute upon which a professorial 0 board, .after careful consideration, offered j. a perfectly clear suggestion was amended j s by the Senate so as to'read thus:—"No n candidate shall be allowed to present him- . self for a senior scholarship later, than g four years after his" 'matriculation, or later than four years after his name has been placed on the books of an affiliated college or after he has commenced attendance at lectures thereat in the sub- _ jeets of the B.A. or B.Sc.' course." And this was a result of the educationally pernicious tendency to emphasise tho necessity for fair raoe-course competition conditions, and precautions against fraud, rather than the value of the scholarship in the training of an exceptional student.