UNIVERSITY REFORM

Evening Star, Issue 14529, 31 March 1911, Page 7

UNIVERSITY REFORM

THE OPINIONS OF TWO FORMUR EXAMINERS. Wo *ra able to publish to-day the opinion* of thr«o eminent scientists (two of whom havo been examiners for tho University of Now Zealand) and of Professor Jamei Ward, on the external examination. Theso authorities were asked: (a) Oughfc wo to endeavor to substitute for the purely "external" examination some form of test in which tho opini/n of the teacher is taken into account? (b) What general powers should bo given to the professors in tho organisation of the university and colleges? Professor Poynting, Sc.D., M.A., F.R.S., vice-president of the Royal Society of London, has been for many years professor of phvsics in the University of Birmingham, "and Dean of the Faculty of Science. Some years a(jo ho was an examiner to our own University. No English, scientist is more revered by his collaagnes and pupils for the simplicity and modesty ot his nature and his intellectual powers. : —Question A (External Examinations).— I have worked undor both systems. For twenty years as professor at Mason j College I prepared my students for the j University of London examinations.— purely external. Ten years ago the Mason College became tho University of Birmingham. Now I havo an external examiner associated with me. We jointly set the papers, jointly examino tho answers. Further, though tho candidate must pass the examination at the end of the session conducted jointly by tho external and internal examiners, the whojo L.f the year's class and laboratory work comes into account and has equal weight in classifying the candidate when he has passed the sessional ?xamination. My experience, does not leave in my mind the slightest doubt that for purely "external" examinations some form of test should- be substituted in which tho opinion of the teachers is taken into account. The knowledge that the teacher will examino certainly makes the students pay more attention to the class work, and 1 think there is a reaction on the teacher, making his work better and more stimulating. There is a very depressing influence in working to a syllabus imposed from without and for examinations conducted .solely by outsiders. It degrades the teacher in Ids own mind and in the minds of his students. —Question B (Organisation).— Instead of giving a specific answer to this, question, perhaps it will be best to cive a brief account of our system at Birmingham. It works very well, and I do not think that anyone desires any change. We have a large body of governors, of which every professor is a member. This is tho supreme body nominally, but it meets only once a year, and the real power resides in a committee of about thirty members —tho Council. This consists partly of representatives of the Council, "partly of professional and business men of the district nominally .selected by tho governors, really co-opted by the Council, and partly oi professors. The professors must not exceed one-fourth oi the whole. In fact, they are about one-fifth. We havo four faculties—science, arts, rnedicino, and commerce—each consisting of the professors in tho faculty. Tho chairman of each faculty, the dean, is ex officio a member of the Council. The principal, vice-principal, and a professor, elected by the medical faculty, make seven academic members in all. Each faculty draws up its own syllabus of work and its own examination regulations. These are subject to the approval of the Senate (the whole body of professors), and ultimately of tho Council. But I believe

that the approval is always given when the faculty is unanimous. 2\ew courses suggested aro subject to criticism, both by the Senate and Council, and new chairs aro always carefully considered by the Council. When a chair is to be filled, the applications are submitted in the first placo to the faculty concerned. It interviews candidates and makes a selection. If it is unanimous about the best candidate, his. approval by Senate and Council is almost certain. If there is doubt, there may be further interviews by Senate and Council, and ultimately tie Council decides. In financial matters tho Council is supreme, and, indeed, the Senate and faculties have nothing to do with these matters except through their representatives on the Council, or when called in to advise the Finance Committee. I think the professorial body has more power than usual in academic matters, but I believe that tho non-academic members of the Council are perfectly satisfied. Wo certainly work so far without any friction. profkssou a. v. Thompson. Professor S. P. Thompson, 8.A.. LL.I).. I'.U.S., is the principal of the City und Guilds College, Finsbury, and for a lout! time has take;, a. considerable port in the organisation ami administration of the University of London. This experience in the university upon which our own was modelled" when I/oiidon was a- purely examining body makes him an authority on the merits of external examination. He is. a well-known writer on electrical engineering, and examines in that subject for our onn I'niversity. His reply is very like that sent by Sir William "Kiinisay. but install of his saying that New Zrvdand degrees aro worthless, ho «=nys it will come as a surprise to many that certain London degrees are rapidly becoming worthless. —Question A.— In my opinion the only proper examiaers of a university axe tho teachers of the university themselves. Outside examiners, except as advisers of the teaching professoriate, are only a hindrance to education. It is an entire fallacy and delusion that they keej> uj> the standard of tho teaching. On tho contrary, the outside examiner, who is not in touch with the teaching, cannot possibly examineon the teaching. He examines on a syllabus, which usually cramps the teacher, and his ideal method is to set cjueaEions which are directed not to find out what they have been taught, but to catch them tripping in things they havenot been taugnt. Let the teachers examine their own students. If they pass them too easily, the world will soon find them out and discount the degree as of little value. The teachers will know this, and will be tempted rather to err the other way. But there will be no real advance, no original development in the teaching until the teachers are made the examiners and examine the students on what they have been taught. —Question B.— Thoy (tho professors) ought to be in a slight majority on all boards of governors, councils, or whatever other name the governing bodies may have. They should be given—grouped in their several faculties—tho sole right to control the curricula and to lay down tho regulations for degrees. Tho prevailing prejudice of distrnst oi the professors should ba abandoned onco for all as harmful. If a man cannot bo trusted he should not U> appointed a professor. When ho is appointed a pro. feasor he should be trusted to the utmost that he will work to make the reputation of hLi university, of his college, of his chair, and of his students tho highest possible. London University is an awful example of the disastrous eJfect of the policy of distrusting the professors. Its degrees, except the higher research degrees, are rapidly becoming worthless. PRESIDENT IRA REMSEN. President Remsen, of John Hopkins University, has had both a varied and lengthy experience of university administration. Trained in Munich, Gottingen, Tubingen, he has since been connected for farty-five years with John Hopkins. Ho is well known- for his contributions to chemistry, and for his toxt-book» on that subject. —Question A.—■ I rogard the opinion of teachers as of prime importance. In this University all examinations are given by those who

teach the subjects. We regard this as necessary in order that the teacher himself may loam gamoUung in regard to the effect of Me teaching. At ono time we had a fow examinations conducted by those who were not connected with the University, and they proved entirely unsatisfactory. —Question B.—

In this University the professors have practically full control over all matters pertaining to instruction. Appointments to professorships and other teaching positions are made by the trustees of the University upon the recommendation of a small body of older professors, known as the Academic Council. The Aoadomic Council in turn is largely guided by the advice of those who are most directly connected with the field of work in which tho aippointeo is to bo occupied. I have read the letter of President David Starr-Jordan in regard to the examinations, and I agreo with him in practically every particular. DR JAMES WARD. Professor James Word, M.A., D.Sc, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and Professor of Mental Philosophy, was trained in tho Universities of Berlin, Gottirtgen, Loudon, and Cambridge. He is well known as the author of ' Naturalism and Agnosticism,' etc. Those who oppose the present external examination hero havo instanced philosophy as a subject in which it has worked unfairly to the student and intolerably to the teacher. Ward's Teply is thus of special interest. —Question A.— Yes, in my opinion, you certainly should. A purely external examination is, I believe, the worst possible for a university. It necessitates a very olabo- , rate syllabus or a prescribed coureo of 1 reading in "sot books," or both, and all this hampers tho teacher and encourages the student to exam. At Home this system is, as far as I know, entirely abandoned. The advantages claimed for it—impartiality and a higher standard —can be secured in other ways. Y'ou might, for example, adopt tho plan of tho three Welsh colleges here; that is to say, appoint ono internal and one external examiner, and give all the teachers of tho subject a voice in the selection of the questions. Th' . ulan, of course, involves the proparai m of alternative questions, and is so far troublesome; but still it works, I beliove, quite well. Professor J. S. Mackenzie, who has, I think, examined for you, could tell vou more about it. But "in view of tho long delay that the appointment of an examiner in England entails, I should havo thought that by mutual to-oporation you could manage your examinations yourselves reasonably "well. As to tho value of the degree, that in the end will be determined by the performances and tho reputation of tho men who obtain it. —Question B.— In this University, and in most other European universities, each leading branch of 6tudy —e.g., classics, mathematics, physical science, mental science, etc., otc.—is uuder the control of a "special board of 6tudy," which, draws up the coursoof lectures to be-delivered, the schemo of examinations, ami so forth, and is tho official representative | o.f the study to the Coiuicil of the I Senate, recommending new appointments in tho case of lecturers and so forth. I But the supreme governing body. I though it includes many professors and teachers —these arc, indeed, tho majority ■ —is never entirely composed of such. ! The Government, who subsidiso all | tho universities in tho United Kingdom, j except those of Oxford and Cambridge, have always some, control. And even Oxford and Cambridge would not keep as much abreast of the times as they d<> if their statutes were not revised i'rom timo_ to time, by a parliamentary commission. As in the ease of examinations, so again with regard to organisation, I think you would leam most from tlio University of Wales, which consists of throe colleger, all of which participate in the management of the University. Also, from the charters and ordinances of some of our 60-callcd provincial universities—e.g., Manchester, Liverpool, Biniiingham, Bristol—you might get some useful hints. But I do not think you would find anywhere in Great Britain that professors havo so little power as they seem to havo in tho University of New Zealand.