The Evening Star THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1874

Evening Star, Issue 3437, 26 February 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1874

It was one of the characteristics of the immortal Falstaff that he was not only witty himself, but the cause of wit in others. So, it seems to us, a University ought not only to encourage learning in those students who are more immediately connected with it, but should have a stimulating influence on those who are unable to benefit by the teaching of its Professors. This principle seems to be fully recognized by many of the leading Universities in the British Empire. Oxford and Cambridge have their “ Middle Class Examinations, ’* which probably do more towards advancing the cause of higher class education in England than all other agencies put together. Every school in England of any standing is by means of these examinations brought into immediate relation with the highest educational authorities in the kingdom, and every pupil of moderate abilities knows that zeal and perseverance on his part will secure for him a diploma the value of which few would be disposed to call in question. The University of London, in many respects the best in the British Empire, goes much further than this, and grants its highest degrees and honors to persona who can satisfy its requirements, no matter where or how they may have received the mental training which enables them to do so. And, if we consider the thing rightly, this seems to be the only just way of proceeding in the matter of granting degrees. It is surely very un fair to refuse to grant a degree to a man who has attained to the required standard of mental culture, merely because he has had to labor under very serious disadvantages while working up to that standard. It is as if the winning horse in a race should be disqualified by the Stewards, because it had been discovered that the jockey was above the handi-

capped weight. On coming nearer home, too, we find that the Australian Universities are fully alive to the importance of the outside work which it is in their power to do. At Sydney they have middle class examinations, something like those of Oxford and Cambridge, while under certain conditions they grant degrees to persons who have never heard a college lecture. The Melbourne University, again, is in all respects, to use what is a favorite expression here in Dunedin, “ a great success.” A large number of students attend the University and go through the prescribed course, while the degree examinations are open to all matriculated students who have paid the fees, whether they have attended the lectures or not. But it is what may be called the outside work that is the most striking feature connected with this University. This outside work is done by means of the matriculation examinations, which take place three times a year. Over three hundred candidates went up to the last matriculation and Civil Service examination, and of these a satisfactory proportion passed ; among the most successful candidates, or those who u passed with credit,” were two young ladies ] a considerable number of ladies, too, succeeded in simply passing. On the whole, then, we may say that nearly a thousand candidates are examined during the course of the year by the Melbourne University. It is not difficult to believe that the effects resulting from these examinations must be of a character highly beneficial to the state of education in Victoria, In a very short time it will be almost impossible to find a family that is not in some way interested in the University, because one of its members has matriculated, or is going up to the matriculation examination, or for some similar reason. ‘ Now it must be remembered, too, that were it not for these examinations almost all of those pupils who now specially prepare for them, would he taken away from school a year or two sooner than they actually are, and thus lose what is incomparably the best part of their education. In short, it would be quite impossible, in the limited space allotted to a newspaper article, even to give an outline of the good results brought about by the University of Melbourne. It would, of course, be very unfair to institute any comparison between our University and those of the sister Colonies. The University of Otago has been established only a very short time, and has to work amongst a much smaller population than either the University of Sydney or that of Melbourne. It has, however, during the time that it has been at work, been successful. It has had a considerable number of students, and these have, judging from the reports ot the Professors, worked well for the most part. As far as the inside, so to speak, of the University has been concerned, there is, we believe, little to be desired. Two or three Professors will probably be added to the staff within a few years, and then the institution will undoubtedly be able to do any quantity of first-class work. We think, at the same time, that the Council of the University might most profitably cast an occasional glance at the doings of the Australian Universities. Those institutions have now had a pretty long experience and good opportunities of learning what arrangements will answer best in the Colonies, and it is only reasonable to suppose that many valuable lessons may be learnt from them. Three of these lessons would be, we believe—First, that for the matriculation examination no subject should be compulsory. At present girls, or at any rate the daughters of sensible parents, are prevented from matriculating by the bye-law which makes Latin a compulsory subject. Second, matriculation examinations should take place at least twice a year, in different parts of the Province, or even all over the Colony. And, thirdly, all examinations, degrees, and honors should be open to all comers, on payment of the class fees.