MATRICULATION EXAMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1365, 28 January 1905, Page 2

MATRICULATION EXAMS.

(Per Press Association.) Auckland, last night. At the University Senate the ViceChancellor (Hon. C. C. Bowen) and Professor J. McMillan Brown, of Christchurch, made some important comments on tho standard of the matriculation examinations.

Tho Vice-Chancellor said that he considered there was too groat a tendency to continually incroaso the standard of the matriculation. This he regarded as regrettable, for it had the effect of debarring many from the pursuit of higher knowledge in the University because they were living in districts where they could not get the benefit of secondary school education up to tho present standard of matriculation. Ho believed matriculation examinations should not be made a tost of the secondary school education of the colony, but should be as low as it compatibly could to enoourago as many students to attend as possible. Professor Brown agreed with the ViceChancellor, and said the remedy that he thought would be effective would be the establishment of another examination, to be called the public schools examination, which would be a test c£ the secondary schools education. Then the matriculation examination standard could be slightly lowered. Ho did not think it was at all outside tho functions of tho Senate to undertake the supervision of secondary schools, which were increasing in size and number all through the colony. He thought it would bo a very valuable thing indeed if the Senate could follow the example of tho Australian universities and adopt a special public schools examination quite apart from tho matriculation examination. It would have a good effect on public schools, and would relieve the strain on the matriculation examination. No further comment was made on the mattor at this stage, but Professor Brown Baid that he would give a motion on the ines he-had spoken on.