OUR UNIVERSITY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1111, 26 April 1911, Page 9

OUR UNIVERSITY.

AND THE REFORM ASSOCIATION, FIRST ANNUAL MEETING. PROGRESS OF THE MOVEMENT. The first annual meeting of tlic University Reform Association was held at Victoria College- last evening, Mr. A. L. Herdiiian, president of the association in the chair. There was at aitendance of about 50 members. The annual report, read by Professor Hunter, stated that the work of the iirst year had been devoted todirecting attention to the weaknesses of the present university system, and educating public opinion in university reform. The progress of the reform movement was being followed with keen interest; although no association had been formed in other centres, yet in these centres there, were warm sympathisers. Medical School Criticised. In Dunedin, very serious charges, as yel. unanswered, had been brought j against the administration of the Dominion Medical School. The Executive Comniitteo of the association understood that those who made those charges v(ere prepared to give evidence at the forthcoming inquiry, and it was suggested that the. association should communicate with these gentlemen with a view to finding out the nature of the evidenco the latter proposed to tender. By tho direction of the association over 100 circulars were sent out.to the chancellors and vice-chancellors of the British and Australian 'Universities; to tho presidents of the chief American Universities; to the past and present examiners of tho Xew Zealand Universities; and to. the New Zealand graduates now holding appointments in other universities. The circular contained a brief sununary of tlvj New Zealand university system, the recommendations made by 'Dr. StarrJordan to Sir Robert Stout in 1907, and tw.o questions:— (a) Ought we to endeavour to substitute for tho purely external examination some form of test in which the opinion of tho teacher is taken into account? (b) "What general powers should be given to the professors in the management of the university and colleges? Up to the present about 70 replies had been received, including certain formal refusals to reply. Professor Lamb, an examiner of tho university, declined to reply "except upon i>n official invitation of the university." Tin* vice-chancellor and the principal of tho London University "begged to bo excused," on the ground that those very questions were then forming tho subject for tho third time of an inquiry by a lloyal Commission into the state of their own university. All the American replies expressed astonishment that an institution calling itself a university should tolerate such a system of examination as that in 'Zealand. Three correspondents, including Professor Om.ind, apparently misunderstood tho questions. All the rest, on tho two points most essential for tho purposes of the association, wcro of ono mind:— '■ (1) As to tho unsatisfactory character of our present examination, in that it is purely external. "",,..'. ."' (2) As to the unsatisfactory character of our, university constitution, in ;that tho professorial body does not control tho courses of study and examinations, and in that tho professors have no decent representation on tho college councils. University Examinations. Roughly, there were three distinct ways in which university examinations could-,bq conducted:— , (1) Purely by outsiders—invented by Napoleon, adopted by the unreformed university of London in the lirst instance, copied in New Zealand, and by other places in the Victorian era, and now retained only, it was believed, by New Zealand, and by Codrington College, Barbadoes. (Laughter.) (2) Purely by the individual teachers —recommended by Dr.. Starr-Jordan and by Sir.Win. Ramsay; scarcely in actual use except in tho United st-atea of America. ■ 3. A combination of 1 and 2, such as existed throughout tho British Empire, and which might bo regarded as embodying tho traditional common sense of tho race. The members of the association were pledged to try and get rid of a purely external method. As to what should take its- place, they had taken up unassailable ground, i.e., they had gone to the best sources for information, and were prepared to be guided by that. Tho professors of Victoria College had, however, many times publicly stated their personal nrofcrence for the method of compromiseused in the British world. The Chancellor's "Misrepresantations." Tho Chancellor of the University, finding this position, unassailable, and apparently being under an obligation.to defend tho wisdom of tho Senate over which ho presided, adopted the 'plan of accusing the association of desiring to, make .examination "a function of the professor," as Dr. Jordan put it. Tho Chancellor's attack, like all clever misrepresentation, fell to pieces before a plain statement of tho actual facts, which showed that a very large majority of the association's correspondents endorsed the views of tho Victoria Collego nrofessors—none of those of Sir Robert Stout. Two British and eight American authorities upheld the principle of examination by the professor alone. Forty-five others recommended tho usual compromise. All favoured tho control of tho examination regulations by tho professorial body. None favoured the-.present'system'. In the majority of cases the authorities favoured boards of examiners . drawn from the four colleges. Tho replies received justified the formation and activities of the Reform Association. They had been submitted to tho press for publication, and published as far as the convenience of the editors permitted. It was proposed to submit them all to tho forthcoming Parliamentary inquiry. .Parliament had decided to hold tho inquiry during the coming session. . To facilitate matters at tho inquiry, tho association proposed to present the case under the following heads:—4, general organisation; 2, finance; 3, examinations; 4, appoinLments; 5, law; G, agricultural science; 7, libraries. The preparation of tho case to be presented to .the Parliamentary Committee would entail a great amount of work, and it was.hoped that overy possible assistance would be afforded the association by members and supporters. The balance-sheet disclosed liabilities of £7. The Chairman's Remarks, In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the chairman (Mr. Herdman) said that the association was to be congratulated on the. woil; of the first year. 11; had set itself .tlm diificult task of proving to the general community that the present New Zealand University system wa.s archaic, and required re-modelling and reforming. He complimented Professors Hunter, Von Zedlit.H, Lnby. Knsteriield, and other members of'the Executive Committeeupnn tho enthusiasm and energy which they had displayed. The replies they had received from high educational authorities in Great Britain and America constituted overwhelming evidence in support of tlioir case. It was high time that the Government (if the country took steps to pheo the finances of the University upon a more satisfactory footing. (Hear, hear.) It Otago, and, ho believed, in Canterbury, the colleges wero endowed, but Victoria College subsisted upon grants from tha

Government—there could never be any certainty about such a system of finance. What they now wanted was a Royal Commission of inquiry upon tho ' whole system. Matters had boon advanced us far as the Parliamentary Committee of the House, and! it would bo when that committee sat' next session to inquire into the general merits of the petition for a Royal Commission, that the real work of the association would begin. .Professor T. H. Easterfiehl seconded tho motion for the adoption of the rei'ort. 'J he Rev. Father Barllett suggested that the association should ascertain tho views of New Zealand educationists on the question. "Were no circulars issued to professors of the New Zealand University 'i' , inquired Air. li. 11. Ostler. "'No," replied Professor Hunter. "They were, in the fiist instance, asked if they would co-operate. Some of the replies wero favourable, others unfavourable. Wo arc fighting this tiling now on 'lur own iJicouut." Air. O.stTer considered that it was only fair that tho opinions of the New Zealand piofessors should be included in tho computations of tho mass of general opinion for and against.' Professor T. H. La by said that ample opportunity would be afforded Noiv Zealand educationists of expressing their views when the Education Committee of the House 'sat to hear evidence. At a later stage, Mr. Ostler stated that ho was not suro that he wouki not bo an enemy in the camp. He was not at all clear upon the general purpose of_ the movement, and what the association desired to substitute for the present system. Personally, ho was not impressed with the prospects of an inquiry or Roya! Commission upon the university system. The opinions of Sir Robert Stout and his adherents wqnltf be set against those of the sssociation, and tho result would be more or less negative in character. Short addresses on "University Organisation" and "University Finance;" respectively, wero then given by Professors Eastcrfield and Laby. Professor Laby, in the course, of his remarks, cniEhasised the point that the sooner the egislaturc recognised that if the instruction of the colleges wero to bo of university standard, it must either considerribly increase the vote to university education, or give iip the present attempt to toach four or more degree courses in every centre, tho sooner a true university education would be obtained in New Zealand. Election of Officers. The following honorary officers wero elected for the ensuing term :—President, Air. A. L. Herdman, M.P. vice-presi-dents, Dr. Caliill, Dr. Newman, Dr. AnPon, Dr. Kennedy, Dr. Mason, and Messrs. V.. Tregear, W. Fraser, M.P., H. C. Tewsley, H. H. Ostler, J. H. B. Coates, C. B. Alorison, and A. P. Webster; secretary, Professor T. A. Hunter; treasurer,' Professor T. H. Easterfield; committee, Miss Alyers, Mrs. Hurstliouse, and Messrs. A. R. Atkinson, A. Hamilton, William Gray, Dr. Fell, Rev. Mr. Jcllie, and Professor Laby.