THE MATRICULATION STANDARD

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 677, 30 November 1909, Page 7

THE MATRICULATION STANDARD

'."•" '..A OPINIONS Oli PEOPESSOES. " '/v :-■ ..-■'/'•' :"FAE TOO LOW.f ;:. : '-.'■/ ' ,: :. iSssociatloi.) '' ' ' _: '', . ; -Christchurch; Noveinbor 29. ' bpme t few weeks ago tho Board of' Governors ot Canterbury College sot up a/.'sub-committee to report on tho standard-.of , matriculation in the University of New Zenland.-.The report of was presented'to tho Board ■oi. Governors .to-day. Tho sub-committee had to consider•.; (a),;Tlie question ■ raised-by a memorandum , from 'Professor Haslam with rof a ™ to tho. standard.:of matriculation in liattnj (b). to consider: generally the question of the standard of matriculation for tho Univws'ty./pf 'Now Zealand. 7 - The- committee reported it; had .submitted to the Professorial Boards of the four university -colleges a memorandum asking for information with regard to the matriculation standard in: (a) Latin (b) ■English, and (c) mathematics;: The receiyed show a remarkable'consensus pf opinion that, in all these subjects, , fho standard is •far too low. .. •;■■'•. <■■■"■■'■ ■'•■:■:.': ... .-•; ..:,-■■'■

In : Latin all agree that tho.door is opened to students who are simply unable to eppe with work at tho :outsoti The prefossor pf.Classics.in Auckland says: "These whp. are bad are really very -bad- indeed." Tho -pro; , -, tessor in Wellington, writes:—"l 5a not think that any student ought te enter the university until he.is able.to translate easy Latin proso• and verse, at sight,/tind '.translate into. Latin with α-roasonable amount of accuracy any easy- pieco of continiißtis English narrative, lhis is certainly not the case at;present,'as' candidatos. are apparently, allowed to pass the matriculation, en a. scrappy knowledge of grammar alone." Thos.o opinions go to prove that the statcmont. of. Professor Haslam. was none too sweeping, and , that the standard required in ■ Latin is too , 10w..-:.; '•:..' 'V.i.'./With regard-to mathematics, tho opinions expressed are'.similar.' One' professor- says— > Ihe scope, pf the work is wide onough, but' the. standard is low, and hns fallen off in lato years. .--.- Another says, that tho •/standard ■■ought-.to. be raised...Another! , ."lt,is lpiv, and closer marking is necessary/'.'".Another, is of opinion that 40 per,cent, should-fail, while nil are 'agreed • that; m- no caso . docs it come un tortile university standard'at Home, ,, ;■ -■ -In Enßlisli,,- again;,/the' opinions'- aie: that the standard.is much lower than it ought to bo. ■' ■ Two v years ; work at-' secondary: schools be advantageous, and a number of .candidates are quite,-unfit, for uiriiversity : work, an of vrhich gees to .prove that, of late years,, there has been,'.for matriculation,stu-' dents, ti gradual lowerin(r of attainment. .1 hn board decided to/ forward the report to -tho Senate, of; the university; and to' ask that bpdy .tp take' steps to have; the. standard: pf matncidntion ep raised that onlv those who have given satisfactory evidence of being able to benefit,by-.uhivorsity. education botdeemed , to nave passed;, tlie matriculation examination