The Press. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1909. UNIVERSITY REFORM.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13563, 26 October 1909, Page 6

The Press. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1909. UNIVERSITY REFORM.

Some of the Wellington newspapers hare of late been giving conspicuous prominence to articles, letters, and interviews, bearing on the system and methods of university worS in New Zealand. So far the discussion has been carried on by professors of the Victoria College, one or two members : of the Senate, and the Registrar of I the University of New Zealand. A good deal of interest has been aroused in the subject in educational circles, and the trend of opinion seems to • be towards the conviction that the time is ripe for a reconsideration of the whole matter of the organisation and mutual relations of our university institutions. Batteries of criticism have been directed against the practice of having examinations for degrees, scholarships, and honours conducted by examiners in England. In jour opinion there is a good deal of force ia the arguments urgeu on this point. Iα the early stages of the New Zealand University,, when there were only two affiliated colleges, and they email in numbers and poorly equipped, it-waa eminently desirable that the work should be tested by men of high standing in, the universities of the old world. lii was only thus that a standard could be maintained, and the higher education of the colony kept in touch with the educational ideas of other lands. But all that has been changed. Our university colleges *ra no longer in leading-strings. They are growing every year in strength, numbers, and efficiency. Their professors keep themselves well abreast of progress in their respective departments. It seems strange, as one writer bos urged, that the men "who are considered fit to be entrusted with the high and responsible work of teaching should not be considered fit for the more or lese perfunctory work of examining. Moreover, the present system divorces the two departments of teaching and examining, and makes a fetish of the final examination, to .the great injury of broad and sound teaching. Then there «r» practical inconvenience* of * serious character, which mutt nave a detrimental effect on progress. A student site for his examination in November; in February he is notified of his result by cable, which is neceeearily liable to error; and it is only in April that be obtains detailed and reliable information of his position. Thua five months of every year are spent by

candidates for the various eectione of degrees in » state of unoertaiatj, which prerente their settling down to any regular work. Wβ are aware of the argument, that examination hy distinguished English scholars enhances the, estimation in which New Zealand degrees are held. We were once impressed ly this argument, hut experience and altered conditions hare led us to doubt its value. We are> rather disposed to agree with Dr. Starr Jordan, that the crucial question about graduates is, not who their examiners were, Hut who their teachers were. As a matter of actual experience, the New Zealand degree can hardly be said to rank higher than those of Melbourne or Sydney, where the examinations are conducted by the professors themselves. Wβ recognise, of course, the special difficulties tinder which New Zealand would labour in appointing examiners from among the professors of her four colleges. Each examiner would be in the position of examining his own pupils in conjunction with, and sometimes in competition with, those of other colleges—a difficult and embarrassing position for any conscientious examiner to te placed in. But this difficulty is not insuperable. Such a hody as the Senate is surely capable of funding a solution; and, in fact, the initial embarrassment would , disappear with time and experience. We believe that our professors would rise to the situation, and the enhanced dignity of examining for their own degrees would be a powerful co-operating factor. And it may be added that one of the advantages of the present system, that of having outside minds brotieht to bear on local methods and standards, would still be maintained. These colleges are steadily developing each ite own ideals and individuality. The mutual influence of an interchange of examiners would have the effect, not of'forcing fall into a uniform groove, but of enlarging the horizon of each by ideas derived from the others. But all this is only part of a larger problem, which "must sooner or later be grappled with. The constitution, of the University of New Zealand is becoming antiquated. It wae originaUy framed Jon the model of London University, which also served as model for the Victoria University of the North of England, and for the University of Wales. But the Victoria University has dieI solved into the three separate universi- ! ties of Manchester, Liverpool, and ! Leeds; and London University has radically altered its constitution. Aβ representatives of the federal system, there remain only Wales and New Zealand: perhaps we ehouto add the Cejpte of Good Hope. So far ac this country is concerned, we may repeat our former remark, that in the early days the system -was probably the most suitable that could be devised, and we should like to pay a passing tribute' to the men who framed it, such as the late Sir Jam«e Hector, Hon. C. O. Bowen, Professor Sfele, Professor Shand, end . Professor Cook. But, with the growth of our university colleges, the system is becoming cumbrous and unwieldy. It involves tht» operations of nine governing bodies, vi*., four College Councils, four Professorial Boards, and the University Senate. The efficiency of the Senate, which has always stood high, is breaking down under the weight of business thrust upon it. Moreover, the anomaly of an examining body controlling teaching bodies is becoming more and more felt, as the latter become more powerful. The question of the reconstruction of the whole system ! cannot be much longer delayed. It ! would be rather prematura at this I stage to discuss the .direction which : that reconstruction is to take.