UNIVERSITY REFORM MOVEMENT

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 259, 31 July 1939, Page 13

UNIVERSITY REFORM MOVEMENT

Canterbury Students’ Suggestions PLANS FOR MORE LIBERAL SYSTEM Dominion Special Service. CHRISTCHURCH, July 31. Plans for a more liberal and comprehensive university system are contained in the report of a sub-commit-tee set up by the Canterbury University College Students' Association to investigate the lecture system and curricula. The reforms suggested will be laid before the professorial board by a students’ deputation this week. ‘ The committee discussed the subject of a good, liberal education and agreed that in present circumstances it is not possible for students to gain such an education together with a good degree at the university. The committee suggests that popular lectures should be given throughout the session for the benefit of all students, irrespective of their faculty. Students, it is claimed, are notoriously ignorant of branches of study other than their own, and these and other lectures of a general nature are designed to give them a greater breadth of outlook. It is also suggested that lectures on current events should be included in the history syllabus and be available to all students. Students should also be given the opportunity to attend lectures in other subjects outside their own courses in which they are interested. Internal Examination. “It is good to hear that the system of internal examination, that is, within each college, is shortly to be in force for first stage subjects," states the report. “It has long been realized that the present examination system is eminently unsatisfactory both as a test of knowledge and as a basis for conferring degrees. The means has come to be regarded as the end in itself, and the examination ‘bogy’ is responsible for many anomalies in the present curricula and teaching methods. “It is pleasing that a step in the right direction has already been taken, but we should like to see an extension of the internal examination system w higher stages in all subjects. “The system of sending papers overseas for marking purposes, besides casting a slur on the capabilities of our professors and lecturers, leaves no room for consideration of a student’s work throughout the year, of hi s powers of Independent and constructive thought, and, in science subjects, of his practical work. Examinations at all stages should be carried out within New Zealand, and a pass should not depend entirely on the matter conveyed to paper in a few hours under unusual and strained conditions. Much greater importance should be placed on the results of tests throughout the year, on oral and original work, and on a student’s general academic record. Teaching Methods. “It is generally agreed that the desirable trend for improvement of teaching methods is toward the adoption of the tutorial and seminary system, which is already used to a certain extent in some courses. Its adoption on a wide and revolutionary scale is apparently impossible at present in view of the lamentable lack of i financial resources throughout the University of New Zealand. “Some compromise in this direction is. however, possible in many courses where printed notes alone would suffice, or where the student himself could be expected to have covered the groundwork at least. This method would release more time for discussion and for the less obvious aspects of the subject. “The vast majority of students come from secondary schools in a state of appalling ignorance about the courses of study ojien to them at University,” continues the report. Apart from the College Calendar, which, after all, gives little informal advice, there is no handbook available for the edification of those about to take a University degree. Attendance at Lectures. “The result is that most freshers automatically take the several subjects they were best in at School. One can in no way blame them for refraining from plunging into subjects of unknown quantity and quality, and a considerable period often elapses' before they even become aware of some subjects which had not been included in their secondary school curriculum. “The first week'of the session should lie a very flexible one, during which freshers should be free to attend lectures in a wide variety of subjects. Lectures during this week would be of an introductory nature, designed to give students as far as possible some indication of the scope and significance of the subjects and courses. “Compulsory attendance at lectures should be abolished. Students would, however, be required to reach a certain average percentage in tests held at intervals throughout the year, before they were granted terms.”