UNIVERSITY WORK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume xxix, Issue 7241, 29 July 1907, Page 1

UNIVERSITY WORK.

A VISITOR'S SUGGESTION

> • WELLINGTON, July 27. Dr Starr-Jordan,! President of the | Leland-Stanford' University, in a memorandum to Sir Robert Stout, Chancellor of the New Zealand University, makes interesting suggestions on, general University matters. Examination, he stages, should be the function of the professor, and not of the University, and the requirement of degrees should j be stated in the terms of the work accomplished, not in the terms of the examinations required. The chairman of ! a professorial board should have as I many. : ,as possible of the functions of an J American university president. As i far as possible, the certificates of masters of approved secondary schools should 1 be received in place of matriculation j examinations in receiving students. A I generous range of subjects should be I allowed, and book-cramming—especial- : ly in science—should be discouraged. In American experience, the best method of adjusting the course is through the major-professor in charge, who becomes the stiidcnts' adviser. Colleges in ; New Zealand should devote themselves .primarily to the actual needs of I New Zealand. Degrees should not be [ granted for extra-mural study, and in 1 general not for attendance at night lee-. I tures in extension lectures. The taxa- ! tion of University students is the most l oppressive form of State taxation, says Professor Jordan. In general, the professor as a teacher has far too little initiative in Australasian universities.