UNIVERSITY EXTENSION MOVEMENT

New Zealand Mail, 29 November 1900, Page 61

UNIVERSITY EXTENSION MOVEMENT

A discussion on the university extension movement took place at the meeting of the Victoria College ouncil on the 21st.

The Chairman (Sir Robert Stout) said the committee of the Council which had been set up to consider the matter had not met, because it had been waiting for a reoort rrom the Professorial Board, which had only come to hand that day. A letter from Professor Maclaui-in was read, giving the views of the Professorial Board. Difficulties were pointed out, and suggestions made by the Board, who, while recognising the value of the movement,' stated that in any case too much should not be expected. The Chairman said he had no doubt that some of the professors would take courses of lectures in connection with the movement. The only difficulty would bs perhaps to fit the lectures in with the college classes. The lectures would, he presumed, have to be given in the winter time. He suggested that the letter from the Professorial Board should be referred to the committee, which might bring up a report at the nest meeting of the Council. He noticed that there had recently been a consideration of the movement, both in England and on the Continent. A conference had been held, the report of m ight be as well to obtain. Hr J. R. Blair said he had noticed that there were some eminent foreign delegates at the conference, and that they laid great stress on the teaching

made n by a lir' RobertStoS \°t had to? remembered rV,af ; «> Had to be NT ea H lat ln some country die «e? e „„ r ,r ’s sr* 1 4° thought the’count, 0 / iX-J/St t be given m the summer time. ■ Air T. R Fleming said he had received a, number of letters from gentlemen in different parts of the 'district aW the "Sate ' ?\ the lettevs wa « from tne state School Inspector, Hawke’s Bay, Wno said that for several -ears classes and. lectures were conducted if e the a cJun h rif the ia CoUld be COll tinued i* tne Council would pay some of the expenses. Some of the letters were Flern -1 unfavourable in tone. Mr he might empowered to lay the matter before the conference of school inspectors to be if aUI N ry - The inspectors were learJy all graduates, mostly of New Zeaaml Vw d &0me fl of Home universities, of rt?t? a®- 6 811 a< ?9 ua inted with work ot the kind m question. The Chairman sa id he did not see tnat there would be any difficulty in getting the thing started, though key all g nai-K 0t mak * a -tart 2 all paits of the district at once , Dr Findlay said that for some years a<s P raCtl ?? d m . a country town—Palmerston south—where he endeavoured to organise much the same kind of thing as was now under discussion. At Paf merston South people came as lon- a distance as ten miles to the lectures. , N 1 lecturers were from Dunedin and other distant places. They lectured once a week, and received only their travelling expenses. Their audiences were general audiences, and the success ot the lectures was unqualified. Those who attended them were not ordinary students alone, but farmers, tradesmen and others. Tlie experience was that success largely depended on the organisation of the local committee. With very little trouble, there was organised in Palmerston South a successful series of lectures for three years. Some of tiicso who attended the lectures afterwards went to the university and took degrees. As to when university lectures should be held, it was found in Palmerston teouth that the attendance fell away as the days began to lengthen. Air Fleming: Lectures in Masterton were very well attended.

Mr A. W. Hogg: Yes.they were very satisfactory. Bishop^Wallis said he would like to see Air Fleming’s suggestion in regard to obtaining information from school inspectors acted upon. The Chairman said that could be done at the next meeting of the Council. Bishop Wallis also spoke of the necessity of sending out only lecturers approved of By the university. Rev W. A. Evans said that a trial might be made next year with lectures in half a dozen centres.

The Chairman said that promises of assistance had been received from Ivlasterton, and 1 also from the Taranaki,Wanganui, Nelson and Westland Education Boards.

Reference was ‘made to the importance of having strong local committees. Bishop Wallis said that- was found to

bejmportam by We University of Cam-

TTnn ' va ?. decided that a meeting of the be InwfY Exte ” sioU Committee. should oe Held to consider the letter from the Professorial Board and other matters