THE MATRICULATION EXAMINATION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 725, 26 January 1910, Page 5

THE MATRICULATION EXAMINATION.

;■' Sir,—ln .to-day^s. Press "Association tela-'" crams/there is an'interesting'and suggestive; remark- of the Bev. A.- Cameron,, a member of th'o University Senate now sit-, ting 'inDiincdin: r Mto ,Cameron >is V reported as' saying that "he, suggested that special investigation should be.made into thowork,of the'Eecess Committee;in_rela-: tidn- to: the. Matriculation examination;, and' "that; if: the committee had pursued .the 'same - course as.'last year,.'23B ■ more would'.have passed at; the examination.. Now.'.sir,' .'when' the -'results.''of. thisexam'inatibn came .up i from', the Senate on .Wednesday; once; evident io:.those- .who'.were, that there . [md;either been very severe handling on ;tli part of the Recess, Committee of the Senate or that : the- average' mental capacity .of the- candidates, had.' been.abhormally.lo.w. -Mr. Cameron's remarks leave no'.doubt in my .'own mind as.' to which of 'these Wo suppositions". ; are, ! correct.;. Ibeeri' myself a:defeated' candu ,date,;-and. mixing' with" others, who' are placed ;in the same, position, .1 desire:; to . raise:'wnat.l' deem:to, be' a voice l of protest against, this .unannounced arid somewhat;, harsh-; -:'. dealing ■'■'• of .".the. Senate..: Matriculation ::being..:a, public examination -and upon.'.thelegal, accountancy,-' and other professions, it is surely, reasonable' to. expect that the 'standard'.of one year.'should not;be';immediately,. Teversed.'by that;.of .the".next, providing, .of .course;,that,the.'phange^is not-notified. -There>"are doubtless: : many' in that' 238 upon whom :this' mandate will -press-harshiy, not boys and girls from the secondary' schools ..so much/as. the men engaged, in business. ;during the day;;and hrith.'a'long: arid .arduous . career "before they- have', completed their-studies.!:' H. ,the',.'work: of-the:'Becess..Committee, must remain -inviolate, why s not; allow.; those: 238. icandidates'.a partial :pass, such as/is the procedure,,, in:the : .pase of.,the -.' Medical 'Preliminary (an examination:.which', does not': differ- greatly; from' /.Matriculation) ?, When-meh; arrive 'at a. certain; age'; ; and. are.encumbered ! with;daily'dutie's/as:;wcll; -perhaps as endeavouring:to push- on'OTtli. higher: branches' of.■;learning,'., it is hard, that they should. not be. allowed ,to;leaye those in', which,they have/satis-' .fied;'the'requirements 'of the.Senate 'arid concentrate upon.'what they .have-ascer-tairied to\be''M'eir' : 'weakVpoinfs, , ''lTriisting'. ■that I you; will' ventilate, this ; matter'-, in your: columns,—l l ami "etc, . " : ■ '''-.''■'"'■' •'., ''?:>:,:..:.,':;'■,.::;.;",; v,STUDENT. . ■ ,Wellintgdri, .'.January',;2l. y-.,. ,:;;:.'