HIGHER EDUCATION

Grey River Argus, 4 August 1925, Page 5

HIGHER EDUCATION

PRIVATE SCHOOLS Plea for Equitable Treatment [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON. August 3. At the sitting of the University Commission, ,the djfi’icullies facing some denominational schools, were set out by Rev. T. A. Gilbert. Rector of St. Patrick's College, win pointed out that in some cases parents had to pay twice because of theii religion. He urged that free places and scholarships should be made tenable at registered private schools, even in the interests of University education. The law of the land had never ruled that secondary education should be secular. It allowed teaching religion in its own schools, and it should not penalise teaching religion in private schools by withholding scholarships and free places. Tn some Australian States, this request had been recognised for years, and many of the most brilliant university students had been products of the system.

Further condemnation of matriculation examinations, and a suggestion for co-ordination in the accrediting system, whereby credit should be given equally freely to heads of private schools were made bv Father Gilbert, who stated that the matriculation examination granted a pn,sport to students of immature mind nnd unripened judgment. The policy of his school was to deter student’ from attending University until at least a year had been spent in post matriculation work. Cram Jeff the the tastes uncultured. Matriculation was a convenient and serviceable fin ishing examination to a few years al n. secondary school, nothing more, nnd it found an ally in the public ser vice and intermediate examinations. M hat was needed was co-ordination between the School, Department and University. These schools cost the [State nothing. They helped to perpetunte hallowed traditions in a young -land, yet they have no direct voice, and no representation where subjects bearing on the genera] eilti cation policy of a country are concerned. Co-operation would make possible t-he’ abolition of the rxaniinatlon system, nnd its replacement hi a more equitable svstem of accredit Ing. A system of ‘‘in credits” to free places nt State schools would be equally acceptable in regard to Univer sity, and the word of a headmaster o’ a. ipJtiv’a'te stliool should be taken, where expenditure of no public money was involved. DIVINITY DEGREES. ADVOCATED BY MINISTERS. WELLINGTON, August At the University commission, evidence regarding th e desirable course to be pursued in conferring divinity degrees was given by’ Bevs. Dr. Pinfold and F. E. Harry, who supported the conferring of degrees by the University. A high standard of degree wa s asked as representing the needs ow the Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist and Congregational ‘Churches. Tb was desirable that young men who went Home for degrees at present, should be retained in the Dominion, to its advantage. The University should allow’ New Zea landers to obtain full equipment for all legitimate occupations in their own country. Moreover, the public did not understand, or appreciate n degree conferred by Church training colleges as it would a Universit\ degree. If the Commission decided against the conferring of degrees hr the University, it was asked to re commend that the churches of New Zealand be empowered by Act of Par liament to grant, through a< college of divinity, the B.D. and I).I). Degrees. CONSIDERATION FOR MUSIC. At the- University’ Commission, evidence was placed before the Commission by C. W. Kerry, Vice-Presi-dent of the New Zealand Society ot Professional Teachers of Music. The opinions of the Association were that music should be an optional subject for the B.A. degrees as at Cambridge and elsewhere in England. Provision should be made at every centre for lectures in music, as at present, Wellington was the only centre in which such provision was not made.