UNIVERSITY DEGREES
THE VALUE OF LATIN. Some discussion on the merits of Latin arose -at yesterday's sitting of the Secsudary Schools Conference. It was mentioned that the Senate had requested an expression of opinion, on the effect of'making Latin an optional subject for matriculation in arts, and in the board degree. Mr. Bavan Brown said that Latin should oe compulsory for tho arts .degree as long as there were a B.A. degreo and al%o ll.Sc. degree. He regretted that so much discussion had occurred as to 'the relative values of science and Latin. . Much depended on the teaching of the subjects. It was easy to say that these things were easily forgotten,, but the fact was that they left their marks. Latin could bo taught in an interesting way, and really there was nothing vhich did not involve a certain amount of grind. As to science, a great deal depended on the system of examining. Professor Rutherford had remarked to him that owing to the interna method of examination the . work was ordinarily 95 per ,ceut. memory and 5 per cent, use of intelligence. Mr. Brown added.'that if there was to be an arts degree worthy of the name Latin should. Be compulsory for it. The science students could go for B.Sc. Mr. Pearce moved: "That in tho opinion of this conference the. effect of making Latin optional would be to make it possible to attain a B.A, degreo without any languages at all. . The eonferenco considers that this would be an absurdity, and,'therefore, expresses the opinion that English and another language, not l ecessarily Latin, should be compulsory." Mr. Pearce observed that it always-seemed to him ridiculous that a person should get a B.A. degree without passing in English. Mr. Bevan Brown moved as an amendment,. "That, whita the Senate retains bo.th the B.A. and B.Sc. degrees, this conference is of opinion, that for a purely arts degreo Latin should bo compulsory at some stage of the University course." The amendment was lost, and tho motion was carried.
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Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2774, 18 May 1916, Page 6
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339UNIVERSITY DEGREES Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2774, 18 May 1916, Page 6
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