STUDY OF ENGLISH

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 125, 20 February 1919, Page 5

STUDY OF ENGLISH

. DEBATE AT THE UNIVERSITY ' . SENATE. By Telegraph—Press Association. ■ Chrlstchurch, February 19. At the University Sonata to-day Mr. H. F. .von'Haast, moved the following resolution, which had been carried at the 1918 i .session of the Senate; and referred to the Board of Studies for a report:— "(a) That to the periods of English literature be added a new period, l&M----1914; , "(b) That this addition take effect in

"(o) That the professors of English be esked through the Board of Studies to suggest the book for the pass and honours to be taken with the. period, and ithe principal authors to be indicated." Mr. von Haast urged the Senate to give more prominence to 'the- teachings of modern English literature, particularly in relation to. the problems of the present day. It was a common complaint that the writing and English of the people of to-day was. of « poor standard. As the Minister of Education had pointed out, the man who was succeeding in the business world was tho man . who could write a decent letter ■ to the newspapers. They had the same complaint from the university examiners as to the wretched English of the candidates. Throughout the whole of the Dominion the same compl.vint ■ was being made. Too much stress was being laid on ancient literature, and not enough on the' modern side.

The Hon. J. A. Hanan asked why it t&is that tho standard of English of the students who hadi attended the uni-versity-was in. many cases so very low. Let them ask the editor or sub-editor of any newspaper why t : he writing of so many of those whose work came under their notioe, many of them ex-university 6tudents, was so very poor. Why was it that so: many students who bad taken university courses a few years later took to reading novels instead of the better works in literature? Why was it that so many of them were unable to clothe their thoughts in decent English? The speaker believed it. was better to have a small programme well carried out than a big one where quality was sacrificed for quantity.. More attention should be paid to composition, judging ,from the letters received .by the speaker and the Director of Education. The general standard of composition was very poor. He hoped the Senate would do something this session to ensure & better of-composition. The matter came up later in the dav, when the Board of Studies reported that it had resolved:—

That English language and literature should be a separate subject for honours, provided that all student's who take English for honours shall take another language at the advanced grade, and that so long as the Honours are granted' in tiro combined languages arrtingemenfe are made so that a portion of the full English prescription for honours may be taken with another language as a subject for the honours."

The whole question was referred to tlie Aits and Commerce Committee.