THE RHODES SCHOLARS

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13645, 31 January 1910, Page 6

THE RHODES SCHOLARS

The suggestion that the elementary training of some of the colonial ami American Rhodes scholars loaves much to be desired, has been met by the retort that the compulsory Greek in Rcsppnsions, the entrance examination at Oxford, "cuts out 75 per cent, of "the ablest candidates." There are

many arguments against the retention of compulsory Greek in this examination, and the case for its abolition was put very forcibly by Lord Curaon, tin Chancellor of the University, last year in his comprehensive "Memorandum on "Oxford Reform." He pointed o.it therein that "this antiquated restric- " tion" kept away from Oxford some of the best products of the secondary schools, that it frightened away many of tho best men from the "modern" side of the larger public schools, and that it operated hardly upon *11 students who did not go to Oxford primarily for a literary training, but intended to take a degree in mathematics or science. So far, Lord Curzon admitted, the number of those who were thus stopped by the barrier of compulsory Greek was a minority, but before long they would be in a majority. The abolition of the test might mean a considerable re

duction in the number of students who leanfed Greek, but, as the Chancellor contended, the redaction would) not affeot the class who did real justice to the study,"" while the " vitality of Greek asabranch of human " culture must be weaker tnan its bit".terest opponents could conceive, if so " moderate an encroachment on its

sway were to produce the cataclysm

"that is sometimes feared." Admitting the truth of all this, it is difficult t« believe that the elementary weakness wbich Oxford finds in some of the Rhodes scholars is due very largely to the exclusive effect of the Greek test. The examination is not.a severe Lord OuTzon himself declares that it is contemptible —and we hesitate to think that an examination which can be passed after six months' study by any man of average" attainments, who did not previously know a word of the language, is responsible for rigorously excluding as is claimed so many fine scholars from the University. Greek is not taught to any large extent in the secondary schools and colleges of New Zealand, yet we have not heard of any really probable Rhodes scholar failing to secure election because of his ignorance of the subject. Wβ believe, on tJie contrary, that at least one scholar learned all the Greek necessary Tor Responsions in the six or seven months between his selection and his arrival at Oxford. If he intended to take a

degree in mathematics or science, €he time might certainly have been spent to better purpose, but that is not the point at issue. The -weakness in elementary training of which some of the Rhodes scholars are accused must, we think, if it really exists, be put down to something besides lack of Greek. But after all, is the criticism quite justified? "The Times" itself quotes the cases of several brilliant Rhodes scholars, and instances might be multiplied to prove that others have done excellently. It would be too much to espect them all to equal Mr Behan or Mr Ziman, but the list of distinctions won by the scholars since they first broke in upon Oxford is no bad record of achiovej ment. Tbejr go there to work. To this 'Mr Hugh Egerton, Beit Professor of Colonial History at Oxford, bears witness. "Whilst tho "Englishman," he says, "too often "drifts aimlessly along, uncertain t. :1 l " the end of his university career as to "•what is to be his course in life, the "Rhodes scholar nearly always comes "to Oxford with a definite scheme "mapped out regarding his future '?-life." It is, no doubt, a good thing for colonial schools and universities that the Rhodes scholarships should be the means of keeping befofe them the requirements of Oxford, for they may thereby be stimulated to maintain the standard of education. But though we admit tiie value of Greek, we cannot see that the cause of BcbolaTsbip would suffer if Oxford ceased to impose a test in that language upon all who seek to ertter her gates, regardless of their future course of study.