OUR UNIVERSITY

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 619, 23 September 1909, Page 8

OUR UNIVERSITY

PRESENT SYSTEM CONDEMNED. ' , FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS. AND SOME EXPERT OPINIONS. ■ ■As in a previous • article (published in ! -j: : .one of ;our : represenV titivos 'has . been commissioned to 'investigate i'.\: of tho "New- Zealand Uni-..verity;-system, and to asccrtain: .. : v . by a concensus rv ofltxj^tV.opini'on K -!the;sykem -is .weak. f the,path' to reform ;must ; '-Iri the initial articic were set forth'the views, j i.i - o{ - IVotcssor Von fZcdlitz,. of tho .Chair of Mod- - erri Languages "at College, whose'as^ • that institution from, its incep- . tion : eutitlcs -him to speak .from- an intimate "• . .knowledge, of the New.'.Zcaland University sys-, ' • i tem, with- particular; reference to local conditions, 1 and whose. 'conclusions may be accepted -as .furnishing 'a broad statement of the case, as /. considered from the point of view ' of : a" pro-; ;.fessor of the 'New; Zealand .'"University. . - ' . ' . - Ppincioal Disaiivantagcs. r 'S :, Befbie : .& of Processor T. H. Laby (of' the- Chair of Physics at • Victoria • - College): and of' Mr. ,Wm. Gray 1 (Principai s of tto formal. Training; College, .anl a member of • 'the Professorial "Board : of • Victoria College),, as expressed ;to our representative when he mterv,.'- viewed-them :in .the;.course."of :;further irivesti-"-i;i;gations, on.,the • subject ;of -university s reform, ; the statement • of the case*'as - put ...forward J>y • • Professor. von"' Zedlitz: ought, : in justice to ; . the :. profossor, .to '.he amplified with .ft .'reference to - . certain . points t enunciated ;by ;.him *as constf tutdisadvanttgM' which;'!lfi'the case ;of . Now . Zealand,' Mve'raide. the London, ,6ystom-'a/perriidous;:fenure."^vv: r.v "The main-reasons why* with? a curtioulum S'' basCd on that of other" universities,- we "are lag- :<'■ ging behind ■ them' 111 the .riice," paid -Professor ' von Zedlitz, "aro these r— "1. Tho divorce, between teaching and . examination. Tho work of our studenraVis'assessed by, examiners who arc quite out ,of. touchwith. them, who nover see them, in 'fact. . I do. not > doubt that this has • been a necessary evil in the 'past, and.. I consider . / the view that 13 still advisable, aa being. not alto'gettier.•unreasonable.- 1 But .tho ■ systemi ! : has : " -tended to "lower the-standard of the degree, to encourage cram, to fetter-the liberty, of. teaching, ana to lower the statu?'of the -teachers. • - ' . . ''i.-The low, standard of ; matTicula,rion, which 'i' adds enormously; to'.the -difficulty of conducting thework'/of ,;the college properly. , . --••.<3.■ f ao t that the'university.' and 'College • . regulations 'are so . framed as to impress stu- . dents "with 'the idea that the main object, of iiaiversity:Education .vis } notthe- pursuit 1 of A ,in a.'scicnce "or;gronp -of sciences, v but the attainment'.of a' degree.:'i.- . .J';!. of-appointing ;the teaching, staff, v * 01;' creating 'the: chair'first;-and .appointing, the ;ft: , i,.pr6f^sor..'.:afterwaW.s,;.. , -wH'oli;.:i9 '.very';,often a case of putting the ; ! cart. before tho.-horse.-; The method: of s'dectirigv by .advertisement only is profoundly ! No attempt lias been'made to differentiate between the .various : . i. chairs, 'and tho-'methods -of-'fiUingHhein,. from 45=' the point - of. view, of, the, opportunities for, re ; ' Search.-,, :.Tliere ' has, ;,in. short, -been', a.'.complete -misunderstanding, of ;.the; condih'ijhs, and 2|;-' .methods .required,:to,r'"attract .men 'of- 'high dis- .. tinction td >a 'colbhial,- uniyersity,. rind 'that is ' ' ;in spito of; sufficient salaries,.being offered.;; The colonial universities have by now got an : un? '.; . : v' favotirabie;reputatioh,.,which it will taie many V' -yeais^-of patient effort' to change.:... One' solution . . of, tho -difficulty might be/ the appointment of : tome sort of permanent - advisory.. board .in ? -England';to. aot for .the .whole university..An- : other.: might "be. to ;givor.some degroo- of .initiav.;.Vitioh,:ns'iri'.Germany, to the professorial iboard. : '5.; It is not -;possible : for scientific: research to .be 'carried on in New • Zealand . ihv-everj of j'Jbarning.There '.is; however, .nc . why '.wG; rliouM not (take'full: advantags j ofthose islibjects.'which can'■ be 'studied. here, S.t There, is,; foE .examplo,' a • great field' open foi ; 4he: scientific .investigation'of -Maorii antiquities, folk lore, and' language. - : Umvorsity Government, ' ■ There is,. according to Professor. I ; aby; some y-'i thing radically::;\>:rong :.with', the New. Zealan'c - system ;ot:. university 'government.-; v :-Prol'eMo: 'H; ::Laby;-is '.the most 'reccntly.V.'ip ybiiited nWm&r of 'tho -Victoria-College "teach 'ing - stafx.'.l He-arrired; here"' about two month - .agu,'.. and ;hisi. impressions of 'theriN.ejvi Zealani jjr!::Vhiversity»Cfjsteia be/'regarded, as th - expression - of.. English'*: iJniversity ■ bpin'iori con v -; :f cerning.'- tha'c. . system;;.- -"You-' havo here;" . h

/<:: ''■: .observed';to}/the' 'inteVviewer.v. "a' '.multiplicity' ■!.'yy. of.contrbUing.and.advisorybodies-fthe Senate, ■i'V^/:'ourC/collci^,r"-*coiiiicils/-' l .'iijicl/'"-'foi.ir; .professorial .;*:.'; boards, ■-,-. Convocation,. fortunately,'is"sot' active.' : ;•;;':. The. existence, of.so'many bodies,:.wis,alinbst in'o: '.eyi table; onco-'. the increased.; to 'four, r;/.;\ which;ott\.a"population..basis -is equivalent to. vj': : about;. 160':universities university, colleges '.■'; '■;■;.; for :'England-r;tch -times the actual number. '';*■,; This;:,mnst'.tend ; ,to-'inefficiency'; and wasle'.of. ■ /;• ;tinie.:y: For. example,: a. question: of/curriculum ;;■;■>' ;majr:be -referred,, .by .the Senate to ,tho;profes. ;:;:?-;■ Borial ; < boards. - .for',-.report. ;aud a' ; conflict of < .;■ '■'<: ,. opinion ■; on the part 'of these . bodies; must in;V: -;.evitably neutralise ,:tbo result. This as a.Uys- .;.:/, .tan: is; abtually ■ as".inefficient; as.that:of trin \-.-;-Austrian; Government, .whose Ministers':never ■'■.C'V-.'.nitti.but ■ merely;;corresponded;■ by 'letter.'.• Ob:U;; viously /the,'.remedy ris in '.the. direction of a ~,. of -.the 'professoriaT'boards'-imme: J--, .'oiately,.previous to .the meeting.of the senate.■ '■;',:; ;;• Agaui).' a. .system- of university government" :i ; ;;.:.J n i c h. excludes: a professor, from .a seat on the ;;;.;\:,.College.-;eouricil, .'denies . to'/tho .Professorial ;',.,.80ard!. a.voice, in "the .administration of' the•;;;;.college,j'.l'urthcr, none of the, professors, as' is ,-,.; i\ /usnarelsewhere, are. ex. officio-members of tho" . :/v- University - Senate, though they -may. be, and >K/;'Me/; elected ;:to'.it. functions of -tbo. New a ..;',.:Zealand',-TJniversity' aro''merely : to.' • examine, ;.;; i, draw;.up; curricula,, and grant'degrees. So thnt !.;.; /here,; teaching,.and examining are icoinpjctely \;:&\ aivorced:for 'most ,'of the "degrees—asoparation '•:■■. .'elsewhere;is ;.a'droittedly, a failure. /The ':> Senate-has-had the'good sense to act•■'asV.far ',;;;;:.a3.': possible the ': colleges. ''But' the ■ -./; machinery' lor - doings this' is inefficient: - The '■:".■■■■ ■' tendency.- of ; our;/.university policy ; should, ;:;; ■ -among;',other.things, be-in.the direction ofim-t^Vi-v.Broyrng^..;the;status of ;the.professors., tTrider ' --0 ; ;tho .system o$ university 'government in- vogue ,',:" i? New- .Zealand,-the tendency is actually in ;'.-., itha i opposite 'direction.'..--■' ■:,,.•-: -/V '" •'■..."■ '■'' " '■(' 'il "Soijf aT , as I' can, ascertain," continued 'Prb-':V^:i''!ießSori,labyr;'-there'vappear.;.to;'be two' reasons :., . 'for.;the,Tetentioh'..of ;the system /of external : . , '-'i."'-''. ; S.-;v' ■ .■';■. •', '■'■- standard and 'respect 'for the degree ';; -.;:'is i.dependable on' the system. /.■'.'

;■>■ : = .:.-:v''2:;;Our^authoritics',hesitate to- trust their -;.' ,\::own professors, ";v>; y'f ';,• : ': ','... ']:. v..".'-. 'io. '^^h^Tespeotithai,:the degree.receives in New ; ;.-. Zealand must-bc.vinevitably,>jiist exactly what :' ! V : W intrinsically ; merfts,"'as ■:-assessed -by tho ,l^ : ..-choracter,=vlearning,v/originality , r..'of :those who '"•'.•'v;;-,.-''-.5 , 'l < >.i'«!-'-'in!^other'.-words l tho value of' tho ~;,;degree.-will. depend.:on 'the.excellence of. the ~,; , 'whole -university;'■ system.' ...If the system is :,..;;■ bad,.yfpu . cannot, fool people-into-a belief in ~;.,;:,the. degreo by;-.the bold assertion":: that : tho :.:.';' are ..eminent Englishmen." '"'•!' ; : ;:; ; :;»yw^V'From'tho Students-Viewpoint. . : i' •' *. U r-;WUliam 'Gray, Principal! of the Normal ,:.; graining College' and fr-memoer-of-the"Pro. -v- 'fessonal-.Board''of: Victoria,, College, presides °: \ v over'the'; professional- destinies of something v,;:.l'ko.a hundred students, part of whose time-is ' ' fr' S ent .>..tb6. study of teaching methods at the ■'.'• -Training.,College,:and : part at university .16cV;» ..vtures at, Victoria College.. .In discussing the ; ,■.,;,';. yanp'ns aspects of the New Zealand University .: his. interviewer,' Mr. Gray"neces- ':., Jsarily .traversed .'some, of the points discussed M;. - .ty Professor.von Zedlitz and Professor Laby, . I-< ;butißelected a different point of view—that of .'•'■;' : ; ;;.\the ! student.: "1.-think I.may claim to have a ,' '' r'■'■ fairly^Vccu'rate'.understanding of -'tho position ,•--,■-: '• as;appreciated -by tho students" he said; "arid '•;.'■. '.'./'.with, every regard for their interests, I entirely; , ; . dissent, from the' suggestion .that dogree stand- .,:!•'.'/ .aids.should.have sonio.regard to the local, con'- :.':; .;: 'ditions'Vof; :tho' ..students.';-. Degree /standards y! .■'-■; \-' .should be revised from, time to time, - and ■ kept ; ; ,',;as.high'.as possiblc.-anil in line with thoso of J.;„; ', ,'thc':best. : ,uniyersities.' : lf i it ,be found that the '~: attaihmont ,6f. these standards is affected-by /■/local .conditions, .then; thoso conditions' raust-bo '-: ■■■ .-''■ .'.;ftlto'red. attempt to cover in.a five months'. '. '" '/session, which shonld. properly be /spread oyer /;,.:■;. .'seven months. ■■■ There you hnvo a. local .cirenm- ;,, stance .directly bearing 'upon degreo:standards; ,/;; -is,.it ,'ubt hotter ..that, tho-session' should .bo ~... lengthened .than;that the standards, should'bo / '-'/ -lowered?-/' ■;>'•.'',,.:;.' ;/'■": .■;?'■'■"• : --■;■: '' ';'■'■ '[>>... -'.'That, introduces another point/ tlie evils'of ;/ - .. .'the system of .external; .examination's. ■ The '. ',' , Bopnration of the/teaching and examining func- "■'.'.'■'• tioris, the constant'changes'-of examiners and ■' ; ; examination .standards, sets, up: wrong ideals. '.-' The student desires to satisfy requirements :/';.',...:0f.an examinor, whose;ideals ho is/ignorant of, ';:. ~ -and looks' to his. .professor, who also knows ■':'■'■■ '.V';. : ■' nothing 'of theexaminer'sideals, toassist him ':;■■• . \ .',t6 (iiitisfv those requirements: ..Tho professor's - : •- ■:-.ideals iiiiist be subordinate to the' exigencies of '■'■'■-■■■ .'':tho''examination' system, and the.result gone- '*■ ■•■ : '-' ..rally '■ is a .diminished' erithnsiasro,. fatal, (lis- ■•• "'■;■ :' .tractions,- and cramming.'. -The standing, ab"■■•■'■'•''■"''■'■••BurUitv of tho system of external.cxnminatiot '"'- : ' 'ana-ffcpent changes of/examiners jb that th<

requirements for third-class honours degreei in 000 year may, under different examiners, suffice (or. s tho first-class.honours man' in. the follow-ing-year. ... ■ ' "The question of first importance is the man ■ who is to toach. Got your man, an enthusiast .and a scholar, .provido him with a chair, and then emancipate him: ; Tho degrco >can then he left to ■ take caro of-itself. A, distinguished graduate' of the • Now - Zealand_: Umversity.-a doctor of scienco, no loss-was lately, heard to declare that,ho was without enthusiasm, ine system of cram had extinguished evory. spark of ; it. It is a remark which I hear very frequently, .from tho students themselves. Degree subjects should he determined'solely..by the. aptitude and needs' of the student. Let hini choose his line of study, and_ allow him, to select those subjects which .minister to. tnat -"■.'The real test of the efficiencyof a university system is not to be defined by the standard of its degrees; not the academic status of the examiners ; not in tho examination at all, but n thf enthusiasm generated m tho students, said Mr. Gray, in conclusion. . ', .