TEACHING HISTORY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 10, 12 July 1909, Page 8

TEACHING HISTORY.

UNIVERSITY EXTENSION. REPLIES TO DR. lIODGKIN. Opinions from various gentlemen connected with Ihe New Zealand University corroborated the statements of Dr. Hodgkin, on his arrival in Sydney, as reported in our cable news to-day,' that there was "insufficient provision for teaching history and an absence of a good ambitious university extension scheme." As regarded the first allegation, it was pointed out that the root of the matter was in the primary schools, where history had been more and more neglected. At present it was practically an optional subject in the syllabus, and suffered as such. Even then it was taught in a vague, general ' sort of way, not tending to accuracy in facts and dates — a quality that, at any rate, was obtained under the old regime. Then it was customary to learn dates and facts in history off by heart, and, if the process sometimes tended to become mechanical, it at least impressed its materials on the memory, so that there were fewer mistakes in conversation, in writing, or in public speaking. "History," said Mr. H. H. Ostler, a prominent member of the legal profession, and a recent recruit to tho Victoria College Council — "History has always been an unpopular subject in the New Zealand system of education. People don't see the- need and ute of it. They cannot perceive in it any value in £ s d. So it has been slovenly taught and learned in the majority of Kihoolb. Jt does not figure as a compiil&ory subject on tho matriculation syllabus, and later at the university colleges it receives no special provision. There is no Chair 'of Histoiy in New Zealand, and, where it is taught in colleges, it is taught as a side line to economics and constitutional history. I have noticed in court frequently the inaccuracy of references to historical facts displayed by counsel, and I attribute it to the fact that histoiy is a neglected .subject. This is all the more peculiar, as it is closely connected with the study of law. Constitutional history is, however, a compulsory subject in the law degree, and a certain knowledge of it is therefore, requisite. " On the matter of University extension, 'Mr. O.stler mentioned that a little had been done in that direction by the voluntary efforts of men like Professors Easterfield, yon Zedlitz, and Iluntei, in giving public lectures in 'Wellington. Professor Salmond hud also given lectures on commercial law 1o outside students, charging a bmaJl fee. Certainly, bowe\er, there had been nothing like a good ambitious scheme of University extension, nor did he recall any proposal to establish suchvi system. In tho Old Country the work of tho universities made its influence felt, over the Kingdom, qualified lecturers bi a veiling loiuid fiom town to town in a regular circuit. (Treat good had come of thifc scheme, and its intioduction into Xcw Zeal.iud, [ though, perhaps, *ome\vliat pwniatmo,