The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1901. NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY SENATE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 47, 25 February 1901, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1901. NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY SENATE.

For tha cause that lack* asalstencs, ?cr tha tttch? ttit needs resistance, For ike futur» 12 tig disuses, And tlia eosd that we can do.

This select and dignified educational body is apt in the rush of civic and imperial interests to be some- ' what overlooked. The distinguished ■members of it —with only a few | names still comparatively uqknown | in New Zealand—may take comfort j from various constellations in the heavens. They are serving, with j their stars of different magnitudes, j some high purpose beyond the ken I of common humanity. If seldom i looked at with' admiring eyes, the j fact of their abiding existence is satisfactory to the whole colony, and specially to the great cities thereof where their combined light occasion- ! ally appears. "We welcome this light j at the present hour, shining above the mists of the city —not. from the limited site and petty class rooms of j Auckland University—but from the j renovated halls of >the representti*tives of royalty in our well-situated Government House. The simple fact of four living knights, not to speak of four professors and four doctors of i various kinds—with other gentlemen much in want of titles—exercising their superior brain power on behalf of the higher education of thecolony, should be enough to make xxs receive with all reverence dun th*>.ir well considered educational ueclsions. The history of our august University Senators, since the Act of 1670, is honourable to New Zealand, though not so progressive as we might desire. Their royal charter, giving their degrees equal rank with other universities throughout the British Empire, is satisfactory enough, and the various university questions of the hour, cautiously referred to committees, are practical and interesting. Yet we cannot forget the limited conceptions evidently prevailing in the Senate — perhaps in.harmony with the limited funds at its disposal—of what university life in New Zealand should be. Otago and Christehurch have respectable colleges, and Wellington has at last gone ahead; but the chief city of New Zealand must be content with buildings unfit to offer a suit' < able council room for the Senate, and i unlit, as the number of students show, to become attractive to the youth of our city and province. It is really a serious matter to find Auckland in matriculation and other preliminary examinations so far below* Wellington and Otago. The Senate informs us of the following state of matters, including matriculation, medical preliminary, and solicitors' general knowledge:.— Wellington: Entered 294, passed 185 Canterbury: „ 320 „ 83 Otago: ~351 „ 103 Auckland: „ 124 „ 70 Sir Maurice O'ltorke expressed regret at, the high percentage of rejec-1 tions in the matriculation examinations. We cannot wonder at this, and have little sympathy with the conservative remarks by Professor Sale, Sir Kobert Stout and Professor Brown, It is pleasing to find the question of a younger ago for matriculation referred to the consideration of a committee; but we feel certain the subjects required for examination are of greater importance than the age. of the candidate. No needless barrier should be in the way of our young peoplemale and female—becoming students of the University. Every encouragement should be offered- In days past students matriculated in Scottish Universities without any examination. If unfit to take a place in the classes they simply lost their matriculation and class fees. This open system aided many a youth to obtain a higher education and to become distinguished in various professions who might never have been able to face all the subjects of n preliminary examination. We do not advocate a return

! to this open door system at all: but we Ido urge the necessity of watching I a-minst the tendency to exelusiveness lin our Tnivcrs-ity education. Far less j should be made of Lntin composition. I for example, and more of mathematics iin a preliminary examination, and | more of general fitness and ability. j Mere cram examinations are hurtful to | scholars and teachers, and the successi ful candidate may be far less capable |of upholding the character of a ! student and the honours of the Unij versity than many of those rejected j for shortcomings in special subjects. l They may have no aptness for those lor no opportunities for their study and yet be very capable .students. Some of the ablest men and women ! look back with horror to their ridieul- ! out; efforts in Latin composition, even Ito cross the simple and easy "pous j asinorum."' I Our universities should recognise : facts of this kind in the education of ' a young nation, and adapt themselves | more to the general culture specially required for modern iii'c'. Lord Rosebery made this view of university education most impressive in his recent I rectorial address in the ancient Uni- | versity of Glasgow, and Mr. Chamber- ! lain upheld similar opinions before i the modern university of Birraingi ham. Our New Zealand University : Senators might condescend to learn ! something from the practical wisdom |of our two leading Imperial statesmen. We have no space in this issue to refer to other matters brought before the Senate. The method of referring everything to committees is a ! useful and comfortable way of mari- ! airing business; but it is often a po'siI tive mark of mental slothfulness in {public men. Questions that should be j discussed by all are left in the hands lof a few. and their reports adopted without further trouble. The University Senate should beware of this ! dangerous habit in high national busi- ■ ness. We are grateful for all the good ! educational work done by this Sen- ; ate in the past, ami have much faith :in its ability and willingness to take I any practical hint from any quarter. | The infusion of rsome fresh blood— < from commercial and from primary I and high school circles—might be of | great service to it, and to the nation. ; Even titled personages grow old, and ibave a tendency to conservative ways. i They arc apt also to dwell upon the I progress within the range of memory, and to be content, as in Auckland.

with a university out of proportion to the importance of the city and province. A trip to America or Germany might be in harmony with the feelings of our guests at Government House: and an examination of Ihe university buildings, teaching staff and inducements to the youthful to become students—in the great as well as in the seventh-rate towns there —might teach our honoured Senators some further wisdom.