"PLUCKED" IN LATIN

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 252, 26 October 1942, Page 2

"PLUCKED" IN LATIN

STUDENTS' CONCERN. BAR TO LEGAL CAREER. Consternation has been created arnong a number of University College legal students by the results of their terms examination in Latin (says the Auckland Star). Those especially concerned are Territoi'ials in their 18th year, about to be called into the armed forces on attainment of their 18th birthday, and who find that they have been "plucked" in i Latin, a compulsory subject, which precludes them for sitting for their degree examinations. The particular cause of the concern is the fact that until a student passes in Latin he cannot become a lawyer. The prospect before these "plucked" students who have to go straight into the Army is the bleak one of having to start their studies all over again after the war, when they may have suffered other disabilities than the normal hardship of settling down to study after the mind has become set by age and distracted by abnormal experiences. To some of the students concerned is added the exasperating fact that the margin by which they missed the pass has been very small. Explaining the position to a Star inquirer, a lawyer who had experience of the last war, said that while a knowledge of Latin was essential to those engaged in the legal profession he did not think that the degree of such knowledge should be a high one, as many very able and, indeed, famous lawyers had been "plucked" several times in their Latin exams. before finally getting the required marks in that subject. In a case like the present, however, the young men who had failed this month in the Auckland University terms examination had no such immediate opportunity of trying several times again. It was generally felt in the profession, he said, that a substantially lower standard in this subject should be required for the legal pass than is asked for the B.A. degree. He pointed out that on the occasion of the last war the standard required for the profession had been lowered for returned soldiers, and he mentioned the names of some who had got into the profession under that condition, and who had become lawyers of recognised repute. This lawyer said he thought the position was one that might be reviewed by the Professorial Board of the University College. It might be met in several ways. The rule making Latin a compulsory subject might be remitted or a lower standard of marking might be recognised. In any case it seemed to him that it would be only just to allow the students who had failed in Latin to sit for their degree examinations, pending either a lower marking . or other arrangement being made later to fit the cases of those whose studies have been interrupted by the war conditions. V