THE UNIVERSITY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1656, 24 January 1913, Page 4

THE UNIVERSITY.

EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS. PROPOSED ABOLITION. / THE MOTION DEFEATED. (By Telegraph.— Vtces Association.) i' ; . Auckland, January 23. ■ This morning the University Sonalo rfc» Burned its discussion of tho proposal thht Camo forward from the Professorial Conference (held in' Wellington in November) with regard,to tho abolition within tho next five years of the' external system of examination for degrees in arts. Tho discussion' was oponcd on Tuesday and a 6hort part of yesterday afternoon was also devoted' to it.

' Professor J. M. Brown spoke in favour of the proposal urging that' any disadvantages connected with' it were much, less eerious than those of the present external examination- system. Professor,F. D. Brown said ho proposed again this year, to vote against tho suggestion to abolish tho system of external examiners. Ho thought the proposal ,wa» entirely impracticable. : Professor Marshall said there, had been a. strong body of feeling even at the Professorial Conference against any change a» to tho internal examiners.

Professor Hight supported the motion as ah impeachment of tho present system. Ho was, he said, opposed to the total abolition Of what was known as the external examiner so that ho could give tho proposal only a modified support. Professor Chilton opposed the suggestion as not being a practical proposition. . The Kov. A. Cameron said that, although in theory he felt that the teacher ought to'have a very large say, in, the examination of his students, ho could not see that any practicable' proposal had so far,been submitted to replace, tho present nystom.

Dr. M'Dowcll expressed appreciation of the entire good. faith and sincerity '.' of university,reformers. Their methods,may not have been, of the best, but of. their , sincerity in the interests of tho university ho felt thoro was no question. ■■:.'■'..' Mr..Von Haost, in opposing tho motion, < pointed out "that, the combined wisdom of the party'of reformers hnd pot been able lo suggest a satisfactory system. to replace (lie system' of external examiners that they proposed-to abolish. A . 'The Rev. w, A. Evans supported -the' - motion. : '

: The Chancellor drew attention' to th» differences between - tho 1 , suggestions ,ap-'\ ' proved by some professors-at the confer- • , ence, and what they were now asking for. Professor Hunter and Professor Rankihe.' Brown had said' that tho ideal system, was to have an internal examination with no assessor/Apparently tho idea was for the examiner to know the person Who ' was being examined. Yet if the thrca other university teachers'in the same subjeet were .brought in they would be ex. nmining the work of students whom they did not know. These men were virtually external examiners. Apparently the re- •';'••.'. formers were advocating an "internal"- ', examination by "external" examiners. ,;: _ Professor Hunter, in reply, said thatthere had been no suppression of opinion, on tho part of those who advocated tho' abolition of the external examination systern. There had been,ho attcmnt to mis-" lead, and no breach of faith. TheroAvas 6urely room for differences of opinion" without any imputation; of bad faith, With regard to the motion under consid- ,'■'■' oration, ho said that most of the British V i universities had an external examiner. '•'■ but, it collld not be said that they'had '■'■ an external system of examination." The motion was defeated by. 17.votes tor G. Tho voting was as, follows-.- ■'.-.-. Professor J. Rankinc Brown, the;' . Rov. Mr. Evans, Professor Bight; Mr. '■'' Hogben, Professor Hunter, and Sir Malt- ■'■" rice O'Eorke. ,1 • Noes i The- Vioe-Cliancelldr-Hbvproxy)K'- ™ Professor Benham. Professor F. D. BrownProfessor J. M. Brown, tho Rev. Mr.'.-'■'-. Cameron, Professor, Chilton, the Hon. Dr. Collins, Dr. Fitchetty Mr. Gordon,- Mr. Von Haast, the Rev. Mri Hcwitson'(by'■'■ proxy), Professor Marshall,-Dr. M'Dow- •',.'- ell, Professor Shand. (by proxy), -Mr. libbs, tho Hon. Mr. Tole, and the Chan- \ cdlor. ' " k'.-.- - '■".-,