RIGHT TO DEGREES

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 198, 19 May 1930, Page 10

RIGHT TO DEGREES

THE EXTERNAL STUDENT

DISCUSSION BY SENATE A suggestion that students who do not attend university lectures should not be qualified to proceed with degrees was considered by the University Senate on Saturday, but it was decided to make no alteration in existing regulations regarding exempted students. The recommendation came from the Academic Board, and Professor W. H. Segar, of Auckland, advanced it, indicating that it had not his sympathy. Mr. T. U. Wells, of Auckland, moved an amendment that, under existing conditions, the senate was of the opinion that no departure should be made from the regulations regarding discrimination between internal and external students. This was later withdrawn. <■ Endorsement of Degrees. The vice-chancellor (Professor T. A. Hunter) said he favoured discrimination and believed the students of the university should not be sacrificed for the sake of external students. There was a feeling that If degrees were granted to external students they should be endorsed. Mr. T. U. Wells said there would be some justification for action if colleges were residential and classes were smaller. The external student developed self-reliance, and the difficulty of obtaining teachers for country districts should not be increased by depriving them of privileges as university students. Some of the most brilliant students had only had the benefit of part-time attendance at universities. Mr. F. H. Bakewell referred to the resourcefulness of the external student, and remarked that already there was discrimination to the extent that students of science who could not show practical experience were debarred from taking degrees. Distinguished External Students. Dr. Hight said if it had not been for the exemption provision, such distinguished men as Professors Condliffe, Coupland, Belshaw and Tocker would have been debarred. Professor Rankine Brown said he regarded a university as a monastery of learning where men gathered for four years and devoted their whole time to study. He was opposed to the exemption of external students, and he thought the Scottish system, whereby every student was forced to attend the university, should be applicable in New Zealand.’ . . Professor Thomas said some distinction might be made giving a preference to internal degrees. Sir George Fowlds said he objected to any obstacles and favoured the American system with a long summer vacation which permitted the student to earn money for his studies. The vice-chancellor remarked that it was generally agreed that the training of teachers in New Zealand was absolutely inadequate, and the present system of having external students was largely to blame.