HOW EXAMINE?

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1963, 21 January 1914, Page 8

HOW EXAMINE?

jFOR. UNIVERSITY DEGREES.

'{By reJepropli.-Proas Association.)

.■ _ ■ ■■ ■; Dunodln, January 20. Iho question of tho appointment of an Examining Board camo up at the meeting of the University Senate today, when Professor Hunter moved :— • "That tho present purely external system of examination for degrees in arts and.science be abolished, and,'in placo thereof,' there be sot up for each subject an Examination Board, consisting of the responsible teachers' of that , . subject, in tho four colleges, provided that, in any subject, the Senato may appoint an examiner ; from without.the teaching staffs of the colleges. Such examiner shall havo tho right of veto as in the University of Wales."

Tho mover pointed , out that the whole of educational opinion was against external'examination.' Ho referred to such men as Professors Beanie, Connall, Dendy, and as its opponents-. Ho also quoted tho opinion of Mr. L. H. G. Greenwood, M.A. (Fellow and Tutor of Emmanuel Colloge, ■ Cambridge). Professor J. R. Brown seconded tho motion.

Tho Chancellor said that a point that had been argued for years was that 110 ono could examine but tho teacher. That argument was apparently now abandoned, and they were to havo another examination. Ho did not want the examiners to bo in England; ho preferred that they should Bβ in New Zealand, if tho best men could bo obtained. Ho hoped, in fact, that the time was coming when they would not need to go to England at all, but it was absolutely essential to obtain tho best men. Ho objected to a teacher passing his own pupils. It was a system, and left room for 'tho introduction of tho personal element. Under the proposed system there would bo. threo external examiners to each local examiner. He had always been in favour of tho very best men as examiners. Hβ admitted, however, that teaching was a more important matter than examining. Ho would also like very much to increaso tho status of professors by higher salaries and greater security of tenure. Ho would also like to sco better specialisation. Tho debate was adjourned until'the following morning.