UNIVERSITY SENATE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 98, 18 January 1918, Page 6

UNIVERSITY SENATE

STUDY OF LATIN. By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, January 19. At the meeting of the University Senate to-day Professor Macmillan Brown (Vice-Chancellor) moved tho adoption of a recommendation of the Board "of Studies that as Latin is 110 longer compulsory at the pass standard of the B.A. degree, the Senato bo asked to make a pass in Latin at the standard of matriculation compulsory 011 all candidates for that degree. He thought that seeing that Latin had been dropped from the pass standard of the B.A. degree a start should be mado somewhere with the study of Latin, and the motion was the smallest concession the Senate should make. Latin had been the basis of all professions, and it was still retained as the technical language of professions. Ho could not see how anyone could manipulate tho English language ivith proper facility without knowing something of Latin. Those who wished to know something of culture, must know something of Latin. It was impossible to teach the modern Latin languages, French and Spanish, without, some knowledge of the grammar of Latin.

Professor Kirk supported the motion prinoimilly 011 the grounds that they should not go too fast. Eo thought they had gone quite far enough when they abolished Latin as a compulsory pass standard of the B.A. degree.

Mr. AY. J. M'Mahon opnosrd the motion, and quoted authorities in support of the contention that Latin was 110 longer essential. If the Senate were to adopt the motion, it meant the reinstatement of what had been thrown out. He considered it would ho preferable to droi) Latin and give more attention to the study of the mother toncue.

After a lengthy discussion, tho voting 011 the question was equal, and the motion was accordingly lost 011 the principle of maintaining the status quo.