TWO UNIVERSITIES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 43, 19 August 1930, Page 14

TWO UNIVERSITIES

A PROFESSOR AGREES

POINTS OF CRITICISM

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "Tho Evening Post.")

DUNEDIN, This Day.

"From the University point of view, the-most striking feature of the Education Beport is the proposal to establish two separate universities," stated Professor Lawson. "As we staud at present, there is a Federal University, ol Now Zealand with four constituent colleges The proposal suggested here is to" have two federal uui-rsitics, one for the North Island and one for the South. There will be much difference or. opinion on this, but personally I approve of the proposal. "When I first e.imc to fcew Zealand 1 thought the constitution advocated, m. the University Commission about live years ago was the best, but after more expedience of its worl^g I feel convinced that it is slow and vexatious foi tho arts and sciences. At. all events, how it is going to affect special sclioo s : like Medicine, Dentistry, and Home Science •it is impossible . to foresee. Theie is no doubt Vat difficulties will orb? up. The only schools of that type are situated in Dunedui. "There has been a movement in University circles to go further than this and have four separate universities, one for each centre, but there v not much likelihood of this being effected. I feel satisfied that the reoommaadataon to establish two federal ■ universities ISSpe!k°iJg oUo e f the recommendations with respect to the training of teacl cis Dr. Lawson said that a great deal of valuable and necessary work was done in the training colleges winch was not of a university nature. Tho handing over of lecturers, too, would be diftcidt, as each professor in a subject natuinllv liked to have, the choice of his lee'tSrs and, of course, would insist upon I special qualifications in particular work. MINISTERIAL CONTKOL. < < There is one point in the report that will meet with strong opposition from |he University,'' continued Dr. Lawson, '"and that is that within each of the two universities the departments ot ■Education and* Science and Industrial ißesearch are to be placed_ under the of Briish universities, wbcli always enjoy complete autonomy » then academic work. It appears as though ZtZ side- of tho work tho^ivwsig is te be dominated by a eential Minis terial department. This docs obtain in many of the American. State imiversSeTbut the proposal, will meet with •ifronff opposition here. traced in Otag^ and the secondary eaXrsinCanferbury, but this, seemed to constitute waste. -It bed better plan to leave things^ as thej were in primary matters and have the secondary training done m one. centre. This would also apply-.to the NoiM Island. It seemea unvrtso to dispatch til Wellington, primary students to Auckland for training, for the numbers IV"he laestablishment of University de-o-rees in education raised another interesting point. The .four Professors of education in the Dominion were, united in considering that the degree of education should be a post-graduate one It did not state in the recommendation what degrees wore specified. EXAMINATION SYSTEM. Referring to the savings effected^ by the abolition of the present New Zealand University ■ examinations, Dr. Lawson stated that if savings were etfected the -salaries of the professors would have to be raised, if tho examining was to be made a part of tho regular work of the professors. It was quite common with other universities that when a professor was appointed examining was part of his regular work. •If: the" split into two universities were made he did not consider til at. the standard would be lowered. It might even be raised. Tor instance, in one year he had to examine 500 three-hour scripts in education for tho whole of New Zealand. Some other subjects had as many. ' Dr. Lawson's point was that it was impossible to keep an even standard of examining through such a large number of papers by one man. In conclusion, Dr. Lawson remarked that, he was very glad to notice-the paragraph stating that the committee recommended that, notwithstanding the present financial stringency, tho nntioual school building programme should be proceeded with at the normal rate. "Financial stringency is severe in England," he said, "imtthey are going ahead there with a new programme that is changing England from an uneducated to an educated democracy. In 1902 there were about 80,000 pupils receiving secondary education; this year there must, be'about 500,000."