UNIVERSITY REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 729, 31 January 1910, Page 6

UNIVERSITY REFORM.

Sir,—ln to-day's issue, in a footnote to your correspondent's letter on the above subjeot, you say "that, the external examinations are the best thing for us, in our conditions." Would you be good enough to formulate the conditions that, in your opinion, render the present system necessary?—l am, etc,,,.'.

_„. , ..."■ ' -T. A. HUNTER. Wellington, January 28..

[In his letter, printed by us on January 28, Professor • von Zedlitz : admitted that "external examinations may very well be the best thing for us, ,in our conditions." What.some.of those conditions are, Professor von Zedlitz. set out in his. communication. We favour the retention,, for the present, of the existing system for several reasons, of which tie chief is that we have seen no adequate substitute put forward' by the "reformers." We like to know where'the road leads before agreeing to,move, along;. It will "surely not be disputed.that its period of tutelage in this matter—if we may \use that ' word—has been.of value"to the University. In our opinion, the time is not ripe for the independence aimed at by the advocates.of a purely local examination system. But the strongest consideration with us is the fact that the "reform" movement is full of danger to the soul of the University. All "reformers" think' they,can stop just where .they intend' to stop,' but they almost always deceive themselves unless they are..content to take single steps, and take them slowly. New Zealand at the present time is not the best place in the world for'vigorous experiments with, the University or any other institution.] ■