TOPICAL PORTRAIT SERIES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 139, 16 June 1906, Page 1

TOPICAL PORTRAIT SERIES.

SIR ARTHUR RUCKER

HEAD OF THE EMPIRE'S MOST DEMOCRATIC UNIVERSITY.

The most democratic University system in the Empire to-day is that which governs the University of London. It is a new system, to some extent an experimental one, but from all accounts its four years' trial has brought " order out of chaos, activity out of slothfulness," and proved that the higher education of London is now secure. There are three main departments under the system—the External side, by which a Council for External Students advises the Senate ;the Extension side, by which the Senate secures the affiliation and inspection of schools; the Internal side, which provides for a great Academic Council, otherwise the teaching side of the University. The area of the University now embraces all London, takes in all the colleges of Classics, Science, and Commerce; also all the hospital medical schools; even also the agricultural colleges and similar institutions. A peculiar feature relates to Theology, which is henceforth to be treated as a science only, so that anyone, "Jew, Turk, or infidel," as well as Christian, may take his D.D. degree. Similarly democratic, if the term may be applied to the foregoing, is the rule which obliterates both class distinction and sex distinction, all students now being equal, with equal opportunities and equal rewards. Thus the year before last 2025 men and 1106 women passed the matriculation, and the figures, representing as they do a like proportion of candidates, show that there is no such thing as a sex prerogative in brain-power. The funds of the London University are large, and this is due to a great extent to the munificence of wealthy Englishmen, £10,000 a year of the revenue coming from the London County Council as a special grant for the study of German, chemistry, and engineering. The degrees open to students are many, and embrace theology, arts, laws, music, medicine, surgery, science, engineering, commerce, agricultiire, and mining, and veterinary .science. The London University has thus made a bold step and a groat stej?—such a step _ as invites attention from- the University authorities of the entire Empire. The popularisation of the University system is most advisable, but the practicalising of University work is not. only this but necessary as well. In both respects London is pointing a steady course of progress.