UNIVERSITY SENATE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1657, 25 January 1913, Page 6

UNIVERSITY SENATE.

MORE ABOUT EXAMINATIONS,

REPORTS ON STUDENTS' WORK

THE COMPENSATION SYSTEM,

(By Telograpli.—rresj Association.)

Auckland, January 24. At tho University Senate Dr. Benliam moved that a report on the work of each student sitting for a degree in Arts or Science bo furnished by the professors through tho Registrar' to the university agent for communication to tho meeting of examiners at Home; that this report shall, include the marts gained by tho student at his examinations, so that these marks bo taken into account in deciding the result by the Home examiner. Dr. Benham said that the idea in his mind' was to give the professors here a little more care in tho awarding of the degrees. He would, he said, be glad to receivo suggestions for the improvement of the motion in the direction indicated. It would remove the disadvantage to which attention had sometimes been drawn that a student had to stand his chance, of gaining a dogree on tho result of one examination, held, quite possibly, on some occasion when ho was not feeling 'at his ■ best. Dr. Fitcliett seconded the motion. . The Rev. Mr. Cameron urged that the reports ought to be sent direct to the examiners, so that they might look through them at leisure.' He moved as an amendment that the lvords "meeting of" be deleted, to givo .effect to his suggestion. Mr. Hogben seconded Mr. Cameron's amendment. : Professor P. D. Brown stated that he would support the first part of the proposal, but would not support the suggestion that the marks gained by the student at his college examinations bo. sent along with tho report. At his' sugfjestion that portion of the motion referring to the forwarding of marks was deleted by general consent. • Professor Ilankine Brown pointed out that there still would be difficulty with exempted students who did not attend college classes. He moved that the whole question' should be deferred, and referred for consideration at the Professorial. Conference. ' 1 , . This'was seconded by the Rev. W. A. ■Evans.,. . Professor F. D. .Brown did not approve of the matter being shelved in this way, or of the Senate passing the question over to some other body. Dr. Fitchett agreed. with Professor F. D; Brown, and urged with him that Dr. Benliam's proposal was upon right lines. Professor Kankino Brown's proposal was rejected, and the motion, amended as follows, was adopted by 14 votes; to. seven:— "That a report on the work of each student sitting for a degree in arts or science be furnished by the professors through tho registrar to the university agent for communication to the meeting of examiners at Home.": •• ' r , , Final B.AJ Examination. ' An amendment of the conditions for the final examination for the degree of Bachelor of Arts'was proposed by Mr. Hogben, his suggestion .being'/that a • candidate might, in lieu of the fifth and sixth'sudiects, repeat any two subjects in which he had'already passed,:' Mr. Hogben said if this was permitted a candidate would' be enabled to concentrate .his attention on two subjects, so that he' might carry his study .to a reasonably high standard. The Chancellor said the proposal would encourage specialisation at the beginning of a student's degree, and that wasmust undesirable. It would bo a great mistake to al'.ov; a student to obtainTiis. degree in

four subjects. l'he motion was defeated by 12 votes to 10. ' . ■

Degrees In' Arts and Science,

A series of motions relating to pass degrees in arts and science wero proposed by Professor P. Marshall. He first moved, ''That all bachelors of arts .who desire to take the degree of baohelor of scionoe ' should be required to keep terms ?t a 1 university college for an additional two ! years and to pass an examination in four ' subjects, including any. or all of the =ub- 1 jects, pure mathematics, chemistry, und i physical 'science,, which havo not Veen 1 passed previously, and the others selected : Irom applied mathematics, botany, zoo- 1 logy, or geology." He explained that in the past there had not been sufficient distinction between tho two degrees, arid candidates had passed ; too easily from one degree to the other/ No had been ■ made, previously to separate them radically; and. Mb present' intention was that-a baohelor of arts Should' not be allowed to obtain a second degree without satisfying stricter conditions. Pro- , fessor Marshall's proposal in regard to tho bachelor of arts degree was "that all, bachelors of 'science who desire to graduate as baohelor of arts be required to keep tonus at' a university College, for two years, and to pass an examination in four of the ; following subjects:' Latin,. Greek, Hebrew,English, French, German, mental science, : economics, and history, other, than those in which examinations have' been passed previously." Ho also , submitted '■ three motions proposing the restriction of repeat subjects for,. the B. A. and B.So. Degrees,. and the elimination of physical science, chemistry,- and natural science from the subjects allowed for the M.A. degree. After some discussion on. the first motion, it was agreed that the set of proposals should be referred to a committee ior a report. . , ' ■ Recess Committees. The Senate adopted a proposal by Professor Hunter that recces committees of the Senate should be appointed,, one . in. each college town.' They' are to be constituted by distributing members of the Senate among them;'according to their places of residence. It was resolved : that each committee should deal with the matters referred to it. by the Senate or by the Chancellor, with power to deal with matters of detail, and to report to the Senate on other matters. Authority, was given to each committee to elect its own convener and to consult any fnembers of the teaching .staffs of affiliated institutions in their respectivo centreß. ' Examiners, ' Professor Hunter, Mr. H. A. E. Milnes, and Mr. Hogben were appointed examiners for Mr. Hogben'e prize. General Court of Convention. Upon tho motion of Dr. M'Dovroll, the question of reviving the general court of convocation was referred to a committee consisting of representatives of the district courts of convocation on the Senate. Matriculation. The character of the matriculation examination as a test of qualification for entrance into the University was discussed. The subjc-ct of debate was actually only one aspect of tho question, that of allowing compensation, ,'biit the proposal was introduced as a measure of relief from the stringency of the examination of which complaint has been made. It was explained that compensation is allowed by transferring marks gained in ono subjeot to another, to enablo a candidate to pass, but tho principle is applied only in groups of cognate subjects. In tho case of tho failure in ono subject and pass in a similar subject, half the excess of marks abAve a minimum is added to those gained in the former, and if this compensation supplies the deficiency a pass is allowed. Dr. Fitchett moved: "That in determining tho results of tho matriculation examination the principle of compensation be applied generally, instead of being to cognate subjects, as at present." Ho de-' clarod that the manner in which tho door of the University had boon slammed in tho fnco of many young people \Vas deplorablo. )Jr. Fitchett remirked that there was a growing impression that tho university was tending to become a class institiitbn. Mr. IT. F. Von Haast: What has class to do with examination? Dr. Fitchett said lie thought it was a false impression, and ho was anxious it should bo removed. Br. M'l)ow&U 6seoided tho molim. remarking that 1m had nlw.\y« advu>t«d .that the entr*Ao« eM'nvUtatwa stoiud

within tho ability of as large a number as possible. Tho Chancellor (Sir Robert 'Stout) strangly opposed the proposal. Dealing with ono point, lie said' that tho medical council would not veoogniso degrees conferred by tho university if the standard was made lower, for it had specifically required that on 1 absolute pass should bs obtained in a certain subject. In his opinion, no scholar should bo allowed to pass from the secondary school into the University until lie. was. ready to proceed with higher education. Sir Robert Stout mentioned eases in which young men had maintained themselves while studying for matriculation, and added the remark tliht if a man had any grit lie would win his way into tho university. Hard work was no disgrace to anyone. Dr. Chilton recommended that a committee shiuld bo appointed each year by the Senate to consider the results of the entrants' examination (Hear, hear!) He moved an amendment to this effect,, and providing that the committee should consider tho question of compensation. Professor J. M'Millau Brown ■ seconded the amendment.. > Mr. G: Hogben said the amendment was unnecessary, because a resolution to exactly the same effect had been passed by tho Senate., No effect had been given to it, but he agreed that the committee should be brought into active, existence Professor F. D. Brown expressed approval of tho, compensation system, but he considered' it should not be applied unless exceptional merit was displayed in somo subject. The motion was defeated by 17 votes to 5, and Dr. ChiUon's proposal was carried on tho voices., . MATRICULATION EXAMINATIONS. ; CRITICISM AND SUGGESTIONS. (By, Telegraph—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, January 23. In a letter to the members of tho University Senate, Mr. W. J. Napier makes a plea oh behalf of students of ,both sexes who have been candidates at the matricu-' lation examinations, and draws attention to certain facts which have, ho says, ■ evoked amongst certain classes n strong feeling of antagonism to the University. The writer declares that when tho University was established the intontion was that it should bo" a purely. examining, body, and that students, whether in town or country, should have the right to submit themselves to examination. The professors at tho various colleges, however, had assumed a right to decide who should or should not go up for examination for a degree, and students in the : back-blocks were unable to sit for examinations unless they came to town and attended college classes. Referring to matriculation examinations, Mr. Napier complains that since the Senate had increased the stringency of the examination only one in ton candidates got through, and some 2000 young people had been shut out irom the bsnofits of a university ; education. The matriculation examination ' had now become more severe here than in any other country, and questions in many cases were tricky,-far-fetched, and grotesque. Moreover, it was not allowed to a student who had failed in one or in two subjects to go up again for examination in those subjects in which he had failed. He. had to go over the whole ground'again. There was a widespread feeling that the papers for tho matriculation examination were set by the professors in such a way v as to secure the exclusion from 1 university studies' of all ,except ■ the exceptionally, gifted, or exceptionally stuffed pupils. A third complaint wm that tho professors refused to tho pupils, but simply delivered their lectures and : discouraged questions, and' - that; another teacher or coach had to. be employed at tho private cost'of the pupil. Mr.'Napier urgw that tho'Senato should at once decide: (1) To revert to tho. standard for matriculation which ■ btained, for thirty years until'two years ago; (2) to permit the matriculation examination to > bo divided ,in such a way that a student should bo permitted to submit, himself for examination in those,subjects only in which he has previously failed: (8) that matriculation examinations bo held twice a year. .