"ABSTRACTION"

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 30, 4 August 1925, Page 6

"ABSTRACTION"

m FAULT IN UNIVERSITY SYSTEM NO GENERAL EDUCATION. The lack of touch between the university and the community, the absence 01 ideals of culture, and the turning out ot narrow specialists were some of the defects in the university system as described by Mr. A. R. Entrican, an associate in civil engineering, to the University Commission yesterday. Dealing with, the working and organisation of the university, he said: — "The one serious defect in the existing organisation is it« abstraction. As far as the public is concerned the only tangible evidence that such a body as the New Zealand University exists is an occasionally seen piece of parchment framed and hung in an obscure corner of an office. It is suggested that the appointment of a permanent head, to act as a liason officer not only between the university and its affiliated colleges, but also between both these bodies and the general community, would materially improve the statuß of the university in public esteem. Achievement in both private and public business, together with a practical appreciation of the true functions of the university, rather than academical qualifications, should determine such an appointment. This, however, would at the best be only a temporary expedient. Decentralisation is the only remedy for the present discontent." Comparing the populations of other countries and 'centres which have engineering schools, Mr. Entrican concludes: "It may be stated without exaggeration that no part of the English-speaking world is more deficient in facilities for higher engineering education than the North Island of New Zealand, and mor» particularly the Auckland province. "It is necessary that the public should take cognisance of the appalling manner in which the true functions of university education have been sacrificed in the in; tereste of two special schools, those ot medicine and engineering. There has been little attempt to preserve the classical tradition and the cultural atmosphere of the universities both of the Old World and the New World. The basis of education is general culture, yet New Zealand university authorities have consistently moulded public opinion in favour of specialisation. Now the country cries for more specialisation, and still more specialisation, without realising that «uch education cannot meet the demands of industry and commerce. Whether a student is trained for management, technical, or research work in any .profession or industry he requires a general cultural background which makes for personality, initiative, and precision and clarity of thought and expression. "From the day he enters a New Zealand university college until the day he leaves, the B.Sc, the B.Sc(Arch), the 8.E., or the M.B. graduate received not one single hour of instruction in the classics, English composition and literature, rhetoric, economics, or any other cultural subjects. Is it therefore surprising that so few representatives are found in high positions of public esteem and trust or that our literature is bo deficient in well-presented technical expositions. The remedy for this situation is very desirable. With the exception 01 Australia and South Africa, practically all Englieh-speaking universities require instruction in a number of cultural subjects for the engineering degree. _ Many engineering graduates and associates to whom this matter had been referred are unanimous in support of some, reform along the lines suggested.